Reducing professional isolation: Support Scheme for Rural Specialists

The Support Scheme for Rural Specialists project is a federally funded initiative aimed at reducing professional isolation among rural medical specialists. The Australasian College of Dermatologists became involved in this project in July 2003. We report the results of a survey designed to collect demographic data and establish a technology option for remote delivery of metropolitan clinical meetings. These are a major component of continuing professional development activity among metropolitan colleagues. An interactive compact disk format was developed, containing recorded footage and presentation slides from meetings, which replicated attendance as closely as possible. Following distribution to rural dermatologists, continuing professional development points were awarded for viewing and appraising the 'virtual' meeting on compact disk. Evaluation of the technology found a statistically significant increase in continuing professional development involvement. The success of this project has led to its expansion, refinement and continuation in 2004.