The distance education in the training of the primary medicine care specialists

Introduction. Distance medical education is a today’s reality. Medical specialists should use nowadays the newest and the most actual knowledge in their work. This article outlines the development and application of the Distance Education Program for primary care physicians. Materials and methods. The unique distance education program was developed in the National Scientific Institute of Urology in 2009 during the realization of the “Urology” program, which was being constantly improved. Initially only the urologists were the target group, further on the Program for primary care physicians was developed as well. Results. Distance educational urological program for primary care specialists named “Basics of prophylaxis, diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation of oncourological diseases” was conceived as 72-hour video course with 19 lectures and interim testing, creation of clinical case and exam. Pilot project recruited 30 physicians in Lipetzk region: 23 successfully finished the course, 4 finished the course partly and 3 withdrawn from participation. Conclusions. Distance medical education is a contemporary reality. All the necessary technical conditions for the realization of good distance training are already developed and present and need to be implemented in different clinical branches.