title: [The system of continuing professional education of medical doctors in Austria. Structure, guidelines and quality management].
abstract: This article describes the system of continuing medical education in Austria. Pursuant to section sign 49 para.1* of the Austrian Medical Law 1998/Amendment 2001, Austrian doctors are under the obligation to participate in continuing professional education according to the guidelines of the Austrian Medical Chamber. The Austrian doctors see themselves as members of an independent profession. The Austrian system of continuing (physician) professional education developed continuously, for one, based on the principle of self-responsibility of licensed doctors and for the other, on the responsibility for self-administration of the medical profession. The participation in CPD or CME events, which are quality assured by a given set of rules, is documented by a time-limited diploma issued by the Austrian Medical Chamber. The recognition system comprises CPD-CME events in Austria as well as abroad, literature study under specific rules including an assessment system and the use of electronic media. The CPD-CME guidelines are updated annually by the Austrian Medical Chamber. The permanent maintenance and administration of the CPD-CME Programme of the Austrian Medical Chamber (Diplom-Fortbildungs-Programm, DFP), was handed over to the Austrian Academy of Physicians, which is under the obligation to report to its founding body, the Austrian Medical Chamber.
authors.affiliation: Osterreichischen Akademie der Arzte, Weihburggasse 2/5, 1010 Wien, Osterreich. w.routil@a1.net
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Routil
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D001317:Austria; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009862:Online Systems; D010820:Physicians / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence