• Planning with the end in mind
• Performance Improvement (PI) model as well as other outcomes-based approaches
• Formative assessment and feedback
• Adult learning principals
• Physician/Patient communications
• Patient adherence

Studies continue to demonstrate considerable gaps between real and ideal clinician performance.  Fortis Spectrum is a medical education consultancy dedicated to outcomes-based approaches to developing and implementing key educational programs for physicians and other healthcare providers.  Working closely with medical schools, key physician organizations, and other accreditors who maintain strong visions of effective educational approaches, we utilize an expanded outcomes framework for planning and assessing continuing medical education (CME) – one that focuses on outcomes that produce measurable practice change and lead to substantial patient benefit.  We start with the end in mind, focus on gaps in practice by identifying ‘what is’ to ‘what should be’.  “The single most important change that a CME planner can make may be to provide opportunities for formative assessment during CME activities by incorporating practice and feedback sessions.”[1] We strive to provide those opportunities and relate the learning directly to each practice setting.

A major construct of our approach is utilization of the Performance Improvement (PI) in-practice model progressed to the education community by the American Medical Association.  The model provides an opportunity for physicians to self-assess, learn and apply the new knowledge directly to their individual practice setting.  We feel this approach provides strength and purpose to all education components developed to enhance physician knowledge.

We apply adult learning principles to maximize the effectiveness, flow, and retention of practice change/enhancement for the longer-term.  We integrate case-based interactive and peer-to-peer learning opportunities to insure high interest and content integrity as well as reinforcement for key practice elemental change.  In addition, we utilize services of a motivational behavioralist to insure maximization of all communications element- be they targeted to physicians or patients.

Finally, we are dedicated to integrating patient programs into physician education.  In this way, patient adherence to medical management plans is enhanced and physician-patient communication is strengthened.