EMPOWERING RURAL-REMOTE DOCTORS THROUGH DISTANCE CME: A LITERATURE STUDY
ABSTRACT: Doctors in rural and
remote areas in eastern Indonesia, particularly North Maluku (northern part of
the Moluccas Islands), are burdened with difficulties in their daily practice
due to shortage of radiology or laboratory devices and other medical
specialties. Travel distance and cost sometimes made referral to a better
health facility impossible. They also have limited accessibility to live
Continuing Medical Education (CME), due to relatively high travel cost and
limited health professionals remaining while they are absent. However, in this
challenging situation, they still obliged to deliver the most optimal medical
services possible. In some ways, such setting is more challenging than working
as a doctor in urban area.
Method: This paper derived its data from scientific journal publications,
newspaper and also direct interview.
Results: Online CME may be a very promising method to empower doctors in
rural and remote settings. More awareness to the significance of CME,
especially, to rural and remote doctors is needed. Further advocacy and collaboration
among stakeholders are needed to support this idea, which is relevant not only
to rural and remote doctors in North Maluku, but also in other eastern parts,
and perhaps in other remote areas in entire Indonesia.
Conclusion: Online CME, as proven by evidence-based findings, will reduce
professional isolation and equip them cognitively. This empowerment will
ultimately benefit patients and, indirectly, other sectors as well.
Keywords: remote and rural
doctors, distance CME, distance learning, North Maluku, eastern Indonesia
Author: Kristan Wongso Giamto
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg160004
