Journal of the American Medical Association (04/16/26) Gottlieb, Michael

Mandatory annual training modules in U.S. hospitals and clinics cover essential topics like privacy, cybersecurity and safety, but their passive, repetitive format often fails to translate into meaningful learning, writes Michael Gottlieb, MD, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago.
With more than 1 million actively practicing physicians in the United States spending about 4 hours each year on required modules, that translates to about 4 million physician-hours each year and an estimated $800 million in lost productivity. Gottlieb argues that a reassessment is needed, with more relevant, interactive, and efficient approaches that align with adult learning principles and better account for the true clinical and economic costs of the current system. He suggests an approach in which “institutions could differentiate between topics that truly require annual reinforcement and those that do not … and [c]ontent could be tailored to specialty and role, reducing redundancy for physicians whose daily practice already encompasses the material.” Additionally, test-out options would allow clinicians to demonstrate mastery of a skill without having to retake unchanged training modules. “Where education is necessary, it should ideally be delivered once, updated periodically, and structured to provide continuing medical education or maintenance of certification credit whenever appropriate,” Gottlieb writes.

Read More