DISTANCE LEARNING:
‘A Real Plus’ for Rural Physicians
The Arizona Telemedicine Program began offering distance learning in 1998, and continuing education
credits in 2000. Rural physicians place high value on the courses, taught by researchers and clinicians.
T
he Arizona Telemedicine Program (ATP) is
widely known as one of the top telemedicine
programs in the country, improving health care
in rural communities, saving lives, and lowering
costs.
At the national level, the ATP is known as a
leader in distance learning and continuing
medical education programs developed to meet
the needs of patients, physicians and other
health professionals.
Starting in 1998 with offerings at eight charter
sites, the programs are now available at
160 sites in 70 communities across Arizona,
through videoconferencing and live and delayed
web streaming.
Educational events are attended by physicians,
nurses, dentists, therapists, emergency
medical services personnel, and other health
professionals.
Continuing medical education (CME) credits
are awarded through the Office of Continuing
Medical Education at the University of Arizona
(UA) College of Medicine. Nursing continuing
education credits are awarded through the
University of Arizona Medical Center – University
Campus or the UA College of Nursing.
With 30 percent of participants receiving
continuing education credits, more than 13,000
credit hours have been awarded since 2000.
Sara Gibson, MD, a psychiatrist based in
Flagstaff, and Dexter DeWitt, MD, a general
practitioner in Payson, are two physicians who
seldom miss an ATP distance-learning or CME
opportunity.
“You don’t have to go anywhere. You can learn
through your computer,” says Dr. Gibson, who is
associate medical director of Northern Arizona
Regional Behavioral Health Authority, which
administers state funding for behavioral health
care in Coconino, Apache, Navajo, Yavapai and
12
Mohave Counties. “Our telemedicine staff move
me out of my clinical sessions and connect me
to the CME.”
Dr. Gibson has been practicing psychiatry since
1988 and telepsychiatry since 1996. She cite H