Device Sector Facing Medical Education Challenges as Industry Continues Expansion into Emerging Markets

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Aug. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The medical education landscape continues to shift for the medical device sector. At the same time many medical device education groups are facing shrinking budgets, they are being asked to support the industry's expansion into emerging markets.

And as regulatory and market pressures have reshaped approaches to Continuing Medical Education programs, device companies are struggling to have the right staffing, investment, and delivery platforms to provide valuable education opportunities for healthcare practitioners. 

To survive in this evolving environment, it's important for medical education groups to have appropriate staffing and investment levels that can drive growth in both emerging areas and in the adoption of new technologies. Staffing and investment levels are key levers that influence the effectiveness of medical education groups.

To help inform medical education leaders on current approaches to medical education group size, service-levels, resources, and technology use, Best Practices®, LLC conducted a new study, "Professional Medical Education Excellence: Structures, Resources, Services & Performance Levels to Optimize Medical Device Education Groups." The study - which provides segments for both medical device and pharmaceutical participants - presents medical education leaders' perspective on current and future trends for staffing and investment.

The study also informs education leaders on trends in the use of technology for education, the presence of education in emerging markets and how education groups are allocating their budget.

The research project found that on-demand Medical Education programs have proven popular in both pharma and device sectors as it offers busy physicians the flexibility to choose their timing for education. Almost 60 percent of the pharmaceutical segments' education programs in the past year were either on-demand or online Webcasts, according to the study

This 85-page study covers the following topics:

• Organizational Fit & Geographic Focus
• Staffing Benchmarks & Program Trends
• Roles for Key Activities & Program Deployment
• Budget Benchmarks & Allocation Trends
• Trends & Directions

The research project included observations and insights from 40 leaders with 35 medical device and pharmaceutical companies. Participants included 14 medical education leaders from 10 medical device firms and 26 leaders from 25 biopharma companies. To learn more about this report, download a complimentary report excerpt at http://www3.best-in-class.com/rr1229.htm.

For related research, visit our Best Practices, LLC Web site at www.best-in-class.com/. 

ABOUT BEST PRACTICES, LLC
Best Practices, LLC is a leading benchmarking, consulting and advisory services firm serving biopharmaceutical and medical device companies worldwide. Best Practices, LLC's clients include all the top 10 and 48 of the top 50 global healthcare companies. The firm conducts primary research and consulting using its comprehensive proprietary benchmarking tools and analysis. The operational insights, findings and analysis form the basis for our Benchmarking Reports, databases and advisory services to support executives in commercial and R&D operations..

SOURCE Best Practices, LLC