by Tim Gieseke MD, CMD                                     

CALTCM is the California State chapter of AMDA, The Society of Post-Acute and Long Term Care Medicine. Both of our organizations share the vision for practical inter-professional education that improves the quality of care for our high cost vulnerable patients and does so more efficiently. 

I have attended AMDA’s meetings for years and was pleased when AMDA collaborated with PROLibraries to make the content of their annual meetings (60-70 presentations) available in PowerPoint with and without audio versions (for a fee of approximately $130.)  I have been doing this now for many years and find the search engine easily locates excellent resources not only for my education, but also for efficient use for the staff in my facilities.

The value of this collaboration expanded when AMDA began developing monthly webinars on “hot topics” in LTC.  I’ve been exposed to more experts and expertise through this process and enjoy the Q & A at the end of each Webinar.  If I’m unable to attend the Webinar, I can do so at a later time at my convenience since the Webinar’s are housed on the PROLibraries web site.

AMDA has charged a participant fee for Webinars which include CME for the participant.  In line with its mission, AMDA has now made the decision to make these Webinars freely available to its members beginning in July.  As an inter-professional organization, this will expand its value to the whole spectrum of PA/LTC providers by removing the price barrier.

In addition, PROLibraries has a free feature that allows sharing the wealth.  As a purchaser of the annual meetings, I have 3 licenses to share for free with other colleagues.  As a senior physician who mentors other colleagues in PA/LTC, I find this very valuable.  It’s good to provide targeted education, but it’s better to empower colleagues to pursue their educational passions.

Please join CALTCM and AMDA so that we can “Share the Wealth.”