Continuing education for the rural physician

A two-day continuing education course in emergency care was presented in small communities of Colorado and Wyoming to 349 rural physicians. Eighty percent of the physicians in those areas participated, indicating the interest of rural practitioners in updating their training if they can do so in their own communities. Continuity of care in the communities was provided by university residents covering local hospitals and clinics. The cost was comparable with other forms of continuing education; there was no tuition fee. The success of the program suggests that the special problems of providing education in rural areas require special solutions. Courses must be designed to reach all rural physicians to satisfy the increasing demand for continuing medical education.