TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical Directions, Inc. (MDI) announces the launch of an online continuing medical education (CME) program for physicians intended to help them better address problems faced by their patients who are involved in violent relationships. The new program, which was developed under a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, is titled "Responding to Intimate Partner Violence," and is available at MDI's flagship Internet education site, The Virtual Lecture Hall (http://www.vlh.com/). Physicians and other health professionals can view the new program at this site by purchasing an annual membership for $30. The program is also customizable and can be used by residency programs, hospitals, medical clinics, and HMOs to train their medical staff to better manage the complications of partner violence.
The lead author of "Responding to Intimate Partner Violence" is Dr. Zita Surprenant, a nationally recognized expert from Kansas University. The online program developed by Dr. Surprenant and her colleagues represents an important advance in medical education because it fully uses the interactive and multimedia capabilities of the Internet. The program includes 17 interactive case studies, downloadable handouts and forms physicians can use in their practices, "just-in-time" information, audio and video presentations, and a database of state reporting requirements for partner violence.
Dr. John Harris, the President of MDI, noted that development of this program would not have been possible without outside support, "This is a very special program that took 3 years and almost $500,000 to develop. Because of the government's support, we can provide access to the program at a very reasonable price. At the end of that day, our goal is to get this program to practicing physicians." Harris noted that a previous version of the program has been shown to improve physician confidence. "As part of our work, we have studied the effects of this program on physicians and in their offices. It really does help," he said.
About Medical Directions, Inc.: MDI is a privately held company that develops online education for physicians and other health professionals. In 2002 MDI received a prestigious Tibbetts Award from the US Small Business Administration recognizing its work. More information on the Company can be obtained from the Medical Directions Web site, http://www.md-inc.com/.
Medical Directions, Inc.CONTACT: Dr. John M. Harris Jr., President of Medical Directions, Inc.,+1-520-722-1970, sharris@md-inc.com
Web site: http://www.vlh.com/
Web site: http://www.md-inc.com/