Continuing medical education: past, present, future.

Medical education can be divided into three segments: undergraduate, graduate, and continuing. Of these, continuing medical education (CME) clearly takes place for the longest time--if the practicing physician is to employ recent scientific developments that translate into optimal practice. Our assignment was to examine the past, present, and future of CME. We evaluated what forms it has taken and what forms it may take. We also include a review of the evidence of its impact.