Daniel K Ting1, Brent Thoma2, S Luckett-Gatopoulos3, Adam Thomas4, Shahbaz Syed5, Michael Bravo6, Fareen Zaver7, Eve Purdy8, Edmund S H Kwok5, Teresa M Chan3. 1. Department of Emergency Medicine University of British Columbia Kelowna British Columbia. 2. Department of Emergency Medicine University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon Saskatchewan. 3. Division of Emergency Medicine Department of Medicine McMaster University Hamilton Ontario. 4. Department of Emergency Medicine University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia. 5. Department of Emergency Medicine University of Ottawa Ottawa Ontario. 6. Department of Pediatrics University of Western Ontario London Ontario. 7. Department of Emergency Medicine University of Calgary Calgary Alberta. 8. Department of Emergency Medicine Queen's University Kingston Ontario Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The rise of free open-access medical education (FOAM) has led to a wide range of online resources in emergency medicine. Canadian physicians have been active contributors to FOAM. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to create a virtual community of practice that would serve as a national platform for collaboration, learning, and knowledge dissemination. METHODS: CanadiEM was formed in 2016 from the merger of two Canadian websites and a podcast. Using a community-of-practice model, we introduced two training programs to support junior community members in becoming core editorial team members and employed asynchronous Web technologies to facilitate collaboration. We also introduced a coached peer review process and formed strategic alliances that aim to ensure a high quality of publication. RESULTS: CanadiEM has become a portal for readers to access a broad range of FOAM content. The website has published 782 articles. Of these, 71 have undergone a coached peer review process. The website has received over 2.5 million page views from 217 countries, and the associated CRACKCast podcast has been downloaded over 750,000 times. CONCLUSIONS: CanadiEM has succeeded in building a national multi-interface dissemination network that fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing in emergency medicine while fostering junior digital scholars. The construction of a community of practice has been facilitated by quality assurance, training programs, and the use of asynchronous Web technologies. Ongoing challenges in sustainability include a volunteer workforce with high turnover.
BACKGROUND: The rise of free open-access medical education (FOAM) has led to a wide range of online resources in emergency medicine. Canadian physicians have been active contributors to FOAM. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to create a virtual community of practice that would serve as a national platform for collaboration, learning, and knowledge dissemination. METHODS: CanadiEM was formed in 2016 from the merger of two Canadian websites and a podcast. Using a community-of-practice model, we introduced two training programs to support junior community members in becoming core editorial team members and employed asynchronous Web technologies to facilitate collaboration. We also introduced a coached peer review process and formed strategic alliances that aim to ensure a high quality of publication. RESULTS: CanadiEM has become a portal for readers to access a broad range of FOAM content. The website has published 782 articles. Of these, 71 have undergone a coached peer review process. The website has received over 2.5 million page views from 217 countries, and the associated CRACKCast podcast has been downloaded over 750,000 times. CONCLUSIONS: CanadiEM has succeeded in building a national multi-interface dissemination network that fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing in emergency medicine while fostering junior digital scholars. The construction of a community of practice has been facilitated by quality assurance, training programs, and the use of asynchronous Web technologies. Ongoing challenges in sustainability include a volunteer workforce with high turnover.
Authors: Brent Thoma; Stefanie S Sebok-Syer; Keeth Krishnan; Marshall Siemens; N Seth Trueger; Isabelle Colmers-Gray; Rob Woods; Emil Petrusa; Teresa Chan Journal: Ann Emerg Med Date: 2017-03-02 Impact factor: 5.721
Authors: Daniel Sidalak; Eve Purdy; S Luckett-Gatopoulos; Heather Murray; Brent Thoma; Teresa M Chan Journal: Acad Med Date: 2017-02 Impact factor: 6.893
Authors: Barry M Diner; Christopher R Carpenter; Tara O'Connell; Peter Pang; Michael D Brown; Rawle A Seupaul; James J Celentano; Dan Mayer Journal: Acad Emerg Med Date: 2007-11 Impact factor: 3.451