Stanford SKOLAR, M.D.: A Model for Learner-initiated, Learner-manipulated, In-context Continuing Medical Education

INTRODUCTION It is well documented that practicing phrsicians have serious unmet information needs. The SKOLAR system, which grew out of the Stanford Health Information Network for Education (SHINE) system , was built to address these real information needs. SKOLAR allows users to search multiple resources simultaneously with a single, integrated search. These resources include textbooks, drug databases, full-text journals, evidence-based medicine, guidelines and patient information. In contrast to traditional CME methods, which frequently have had relatively little success in meeting physicians' long-term educational needs3, SKOLAR provides a prototype for a new type of CME, based on self-initiated learning in the context of real patient-related queries. As part of a pilot project with the American Medical Association (AMA), physicians can earn Category 1 CME credit for legitimate learning conducted in SKOLAR around these real patientrelated questions.