Implementing a community education program on stroke for health care providers and consumers

Stroke remains a leading killer and cause of disability in the United States. The incidence of stroke appears to be increasing while new advances in the management of stroke continue to emerge. These realities emphasize the need to communicate advances to health care providers and consumers. However, educating health care providers and consumers in rural states is often difficult due to dispersed geographic distribution and lack of resources. This project, utilizing teleconferencing technology, brought an educational program on stroke management for providers and consumers into rural communities. Community hospitals, with teleconferencing capability, were identified throughout Vermont. Community providers and consumers were invited to participate in educational sessions using a variety of marketing methodologies. A multidisciplinary team designed two curricula (one for providers and one for health care consumers) on the management of stroke. A total of 211 health care professionals and 122 consumers participated in the program. Education session evaluations suggested that the program either met or exceeded participants' expectations for the majority of programs. This project demonstrated that academic centers can provide quality continuing medical education for their rural communities using teleconferencing technology. Experience with this program suggests that there are three key elements for success: adequate planning time, communication on multiple levels, and strong marketing strategies.