BY HEIDI ULRICHSEN

Could iPods and other MP3 players be the wave of the future when it comes to continuing education for health-care professionals?

Fort Frances optometrist Dr. Bruce Lidkea received his first iPod as a gift three years ago.

When he went to the iTunes store, he typed “optometry” into the search field, and came up with numerous podcasts on the subject.

Because he is also a part-time MBA student, he also downloaded podcasts on business news.

A podcast is a collection of digital media files distributed over the Internet for playback on portable media players like iPods or MP3 players and on computers.

“You search optometry and business, and all these wonderful educational opportunities come on the screen,” he said.

“What you can find really varies. There are some very, very good educational podcasts and discussion forum type podcasts on optometry.

“The majority of it is just staying in the forefront of what’s going on with optometry technology. Also, with my MBA, getting business information through podcasts has done wonders both professionally and personally.”

Podcasts can also be useful for learning about practice management, Lidkea said.
“With most health-care practitioners, you spend all of your time in school in your own little bubble. You are learning your profession,” he said.

“Unfortunately, there are two variables that you have to deal with, and nobody teaches you anything about - that is people and money. It used to be quite distasteful for anybody in the health care field to think of themselves as a businessperson. Now it’s the kiss of death if you don’t.”

Lidkea said podcasts are not currently recognized by the College of Optometrists of Ontario as a means of earning continuing education credits.

However, because he is on the board of directors of the Ontario Association of Optometrists, he will be using his position to push for change.

“I’ve heard lots of positive feedback (about his promotion of podcasts as a continuing education tool). The next time I get a moment or two with a few college board members, it’s going to come up.”

Lidkea hopes that the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo will soon start producing its own podcasts of lectures.

He advises medical workers from other professions to look into whether their governing bodies accept podcasts as a means of earning continuing education credits.

“I think every governing body is different. I believe that some of the other disciplines have more relaxed rules on what is considered self-study. Talk to your regulating body and see if this would count for credit.”

Health-care workers should embrace new forms of technology as a means to improve their professional lives, he said.

“I don’t think any of us can afford to be a dinosaur anymore. We’re all extra busy. It seems that there aren’t 24 hours in a day. It’s time to stop working harder and start working smarter with new technology.”