Sickle Cell Disease
A new further education service for MD
Now that the on-line lectures of the Virtual Medical University of Monaco (UMVM) have gone live, doctors have at their disposal an innovative and novel possibility for their further education, at the cutting edge of scientific and clinical knowledge.
A non-profit organization, the UMVM was founded with the approval of H.S.H. Prince Albert II and H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover, who right from the outset supported the initiative. It was established under the sponsorship of the Princess Grace of Monaco Foundation.
E-learning briefly
In order to provide its on-line courses, the Virtual Medical University of Monaco (UMVM) has opted for a method, which is in full bloom: that of e-learning, which already makes up a quarter of distance-learning diplomas and which could exceed 40% within the next three years, according to a survey by CEDEFOP.
This method of distance learning is based on a web platform to which the students log on to follow the training courses, at their own pace.
E-learning courses entitle students to be awarded Continuous Medical Education (CME) credits.
Having chosen to make use of new multimedia technology associated with the Internet, the UMVM can adjust its courses to the full diversity of medical personnel.
Thanks to the Learning Management System (LMS), doctors have the benefit of a range of tools and functionalities, which enable them to progress both in a direct line and transversally. In addition to the theoretical sessions, clinical cases are also presented as well as new techniques in the areas of diagnosis and therapy, with reports, specialist debates and video recordings.
Currently available : Sickle-cell disease
The first on-line course of the Virtual Medical University of Monaco (UMVM) covered sickle-cell disease, otherwise known as drepanocytosis, the most widespread genetic disease in the world, recognized by international agencies as a major public-health issue. Every year, more than 250,000 children are affected.
The course, under the guidance of Professor Graham Serjeant (Kingston, Jamaica), worldwide leader in sickle-cell disease, relies on the best leaders in the field (27 lecturers from 16 different countries). Formation is mainly intended to train new staff members for SCD centers, to provide CME for professionals in the field of SCD, and for physicians who are not specializing predominantly in this disease but who diagnose or treat SCD patients.
Accessible via a user-friendly e-learning platform, the course lasts 25 hours and relies on 14 modules that include 22 multimedia lectures, available in both French and English. Physicians also have permanent access to a round-table of international experts and to 30 reports and interviews of SCD specialists. Multiple-choice questions enable to evaluate progress.
The formation aims to allow doctors to update their knowledge on diagnosis basics, disease manifestations, and clinical care. Therapeutic modalities are widely discussed in the modules.
The Sickle Cell Disease Course by E-learning, made available on http://elearning.umvm.net and organized by l’Université Médicale Virtuelle de Monaco [UMVM], is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) to provide the following CME activity for medical specialists.
The Sickle Cell Disease Course by E-learning, made available by E-learning on http://elearning.umvm.net and organized by l’Université Médicale Virtuelle de Monaco [UMVM], is awarded 17 European CME credits (ECMEC’s).
Based on the same principles as the first course, other courses are currently being produced. They will cover cardiology and neuroscience.
The cardiology course will be available during 2012 first quarter. This formation is intended for physicians who want to deepen their knowledge of cardiac electrophysiology. In particular, they will be teached how to identify arrhythmia on the electrocardiographic recording (the symptoms of which can be extremely varied) and plan appropriate treatments.
From summer 2012, a course in neuroscience will deal with the current state of knowledge with regard to the clinical, neuroanatomical and functional foundations of human consciousness. Participating students will be presented with lesional approaches, such as studies of comas and other associated conditions. Lectures by specialists in the field will be filmed and will serve as the basis for the e-learning programme, combined with clinical case-studies and presentations of clinical, electrophysiological and neuroimaging tools.
Each course qualifies practitioner for post-graduated courses or for Continuous Medical Education (CME) credits, given by European accreditation organisms.
As the UMVM is a non-profit-making organisation, the entrance fees are used solely to cover part of the production costs.
If necessary, the UMVM can help in obtaining a grant to cover the tuition for the courses. Institutional investors also have the possibility of combined enrolments.
The UMVM in few words
The Virtual Medical University of Monaco (UMVM) is a higher education organisation based on « e-learning ». The University offers high-performance medical further education, focusing on new advances in the field of diagnosis and therapy. Productions cover innovations in leading edge medicine, as well as public health issues.
The UMVM has developed an on-line high-performance and attractive teaching method, based on video recordings, reports, slide shows, animations, debates, questionnaires for self-evaluation.
Each courses qualifies practitioner for continuous medical education credits, validated in particular by European accreditation organisms.
Each UMVM course is evaluated and approved by a scientific council, chaired by Professor Philippe Evrard, University of Paris – Diderot Medical School.
Lasting 20 hours on average, each formation is supervised by an internationally recognized leader in the field. The courses include multiple modules, teached by experts from Europe, North America and worldwide. These same experts will be in charge of updating the courses.
UMVM formations are provided in both French and English.
As the UMVM is a non-profit-making organisation, the entrance fees are used solely to cover part of the production costs.
The first on-line course of the UMVM covers sickle-cell disease, otherwise known as drepanocytosis, the most widespread genetic disease in the world. The upcoming UMVM courses will be devoted to cardiology and neuroscience.
Lionel DRAON
Executive director – Virtual Medical University of Monaco
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