Audioteleconferencing for clinical engineering continuing education

Audioteleconferencing is a low-level technology that can be used to deliver cost-effective continuing education for clinical engineers. The Department of Veterans Affairs has used audioteleconferencing for 15 years to provide education to clinical engineering and safety staff. The American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE) has found this to be a useful modality to provide a service to the clinical engineering profession. The ACCE has provided a series of monthly programs on business, financial and technical topics since 1994. Audioteleconferencing has the advantage of being available to anyone with a phone. With speakerphones and handout materials, many people can participate. It can be as interactive as a classroom in real time. The major disadvantage is when visual interaction is required. The experiences of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the ACCE are discussed.