Online Medical Education Distribution:
General Information
About Medscape
Medscape Education is the world’s leader in helping healthcare providers achieve their goal of
improving patient care, and supporters meet their objective of funding educational initiatives that effect
measurable possible impact on the largest possible audience.
Each month, Medscape receives 2.6 million visits from physicians who rely on Medscape for the latest in
news, conference coverage, expert commentary and CME. A 2012 study by comScore® showed
Medscape to be the No. 1 site for healthcare professionals as measured by reach and engagement1 and
ACCME data highlights Medscape’s position as the leading provider of online education, with 58% of all
online CME participation.2 This vast subscriber base, combined with innovative approaches to delivering
education, allows Medscape to provide unparalleled outcomes analysis to partners and supporters
which, in turn, helps to promote the value of CME across the industry.
1
comScore Physician Online Usage Analysis, Q1 2012
ACCME 2011 Annual Report
2
Clinician Metrics and Generation
Learner recruitment efforts employ available drivers on Medscape Education to achieve optimal,
strategically-targeted health care provider traffic. These drivers may include announcements in
specialty-appropriate eNewsletters, appropriate site and mobile placement, and search engine
integration and optimization. This approach allows greater flexibility in directing activities to relevant
specialty audiences.
Distribution Elements
Each activity distributed via Medscape includes the following:
 12 month online hosting on Medscape
 Project management and production of online activity upon receipt of content
 Coding of online activity and hosting on Medscape servers
 Online promotion and guarantee/distribution package
 Standardized metrics reports containing total number of learners and test-takers
 Direct online receipt of post-test and certificate for learners
Medscape Production & Project Management Requirements
 All content (media, text, transcript, etc) must be complete, final, and approved by 3rd party
CME/CE- Accredited Provider when supplied to Medscape for production and distribution.
 Activity production specifications are available on www.medscape.org/distribution
Activity Measurement
Measurement of participant learning using pre- and post-test questions supplied by education partner
using a flexible format designed to be compatible with most CME provider models.
Reporting
 Learners and test-takers
 Breakout by profession and top three physician specialties as well as Allied Healthcare
Professionals
 Quarterly standardized learner and test taker reports sent directly to education partner
 Quarterly CME/CE participant reports sent directly to CME provider
 Aggregate reporting showing responses for interactive questions by specialty
Educational Formats
Medscape offers several powerful educational formats which allow our partners to choose the best fit
for an activity’s learning objectives and clinician learning style. The education partner is responsible for
all content development, permissions, faculty honoraria, travel, and certification fees (CME/CNE/CPE).
Distribution to nurses and pharmacists incurs an additional charge (see “Optional Enhancements”)
Formats are as follows:
Multimedia Lecture with Slides
A turnkey multimedia version of a symposium, live meeting or other similar content, with PowerPoint
slides synchronized to an audio or video file, using the cross-platform player. Typically one to two credits
in length, and may include interactive questions within the content. Includes optional transcript/slide
version and downloadable slides.
 Final materials provided by partner upon completion of the meeting or presentation
development
 Posts approximately eight weeks after receipt of materials from offline event
 Link to example for Slide/Audio: http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/745518
 Link to example for Slide/Video: http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/733497
Slide/Audio screenshot
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Slide/Video screenshot
Text Article
Text format originated from a monograph, newsletter or education article that may include illustrations
and/or slides within the text. Interactive questions may be included within content. Recommended
content length is up to one credit (approximately 5,000 words).
 Posts approximately 6-8 weeks after receipt of materials from partner
 Link to example: http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/745566
 Link to example: http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/768623
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Optional Enhancements
Nursing and Pharmacy Distribution
Medscape has more than 900,000 nurse and more than 150,000 pharmacist active members, across all
medical specialties. Content developed for either audience can be distributed to these practitioners for
an additional fee.
Distribution for a Recertification
For recertification of an activity, no edits can be made to the content of the original activity and
distribution guarantees are reduced by 50%.
Outcomes Measurement: Custom MECC Outcomes
This product allows a partner utilizing Medscape for distribution of an online activity to evaluate the
impact of the activity beyond the standard metrics by including an additional assessment instrument (or
outcomes study). The partner-supplied assessment questions are embedded within the activity. (i.e. pre, intra-, or post-activity questions) Additional recruitment efforts are utilized to facilitate optimal
participation for a period of up to 6-months following program launch to reach the targeted number of
specialty participants. Target participation goals vary by specialty and are provided upon request.
Medscape does not take responsibility for the success of the outcomes study and recommends that the
questionnaires be kept to a maximum of 4-6 questions in order to achieve maximum target completion.
Medscape will provide one final report of anonymous user level response data to all questions once
participation goals are reached or at the end of 6 months, whichever comes first. Quarterly status
updates will be provided upon request. Data reports do not contain contact information for Medscape
members. Outcomes studies cannot be added after an activity launches.
Outcomes Measurement: Performance Case-Based Assessment
This model is best suited to measure patient-care centered education, with a goal of testing how
learners apply changes in knowledge to patient case vignettes. Measuring performance, this outcomes
approach is delivered in partnership with CE Outcomes, LLC.
Outcomes Measurement: Planned Change Assessment
This assessment delivers insight into a learner’s own personal practice, revealing what barriers may
stand in the way of behavioral change and whether education has helped overcome them. Allowing time
to demonstrate that intended changes were actually made versus simply predicted, this performancefocused measurement tool is delivered in partnership with Healthcare Performance Consulting.
For more information about these formats and about partnering with Medscape, please contact Eliza
Reshefsky, Director, Medical Education Partners at (347) 420-3365 or ereshefsky@medscape.net
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