University of Virginia Health System

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA HEALTH SYSTEM LAUNCHES UNIQUE, CME-ACCREDITED WEB SITE FOR CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE

The Web site, http://www.cardiovillage.com, is sponsored by the U.Va. Office of Continuing Medical Education (CME) and includes a wide selection of case-based learning programs for which physician can earn CME credit. Cardiologists, primary care physicians and other medical professionals can use CardioVillage to obtain CME credit, review a specific area of cardiovascular medicine, or read commentary by experts from across the U.S.

In cardiovascular medicine, information is changing rapidly, and new developments can improve patient care. CardioVillage is a unique tool that will allow busy physicians to easily obtain CME credit as well as access credible, cutting-edge information and apply these advances to their practices, said Dr. George Beller, head of Cardiovascular Medicine at U.Va.

CardioVillage will provide continuous access to the latest journal summaries and treatment guidelines, as well as teaching tools and expert commentaries on all areas of cardiovascular medicine. Initial content for CardioVillage was developed by U.Va. physicians. Next year, nationally recognized experts in different cardiovascular specialties will be contributing regularly to the editorial content of the site. A physician editorial board will approve all content.

To ensure users receive appropriate information for their level of expertise, they will be asked to customize their experience by selecting from different learning tracks. Though medical professionals are the primary audience, CardioVillage will be accessible to the general public. The site can also be used as a learning tool for medical students and residents who want to study the latest medical literature and become familiar with the sounds and images of cardiovascular medicine.

CardioVillage is a rich, multimedia learning environment that until now could only be achieved through hands-on experience. Using the Web site, I will be able to show students and other physicians EKGs, angiograms, echocardiogram clips, catheterization images and heart sounds as needed, said Dr. Ralph Buckley, a cardiologist at U.Va. and co-course director for CardioVillage.

CardioVillage was designed to reflect U.Va. founder Thomas Jefferson's original Academical Village model that included a central Rotunda with connecting Pavilions. In the Web site, each Pavilion will house information on a different area of cardiovascular medicine. Health professionals will be charged a CME fee of five dollars per hour. In accordance with Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) standards, no product specific advertising or bias will be promoted in the Web site.

DuPont Pharmaceuticals, a leader in cardiovascular medicine, is a founding corporate partner of CardioVillage. The number of physicians turning to the web for education is growing exponentially. Because DuPont is committed to promoting evidence-based medicine, we are pleased to help bring a progressive and unique educational resource like CardioVillage to physicians worldwide, said Susan T. Nemetz, vice president of DuPont Pharmaceutical's contrast imaging business.

November 6, 1999