The Difference Between Practice Gaps and Educational Needs

In an article in MeetingsNet, Judy M. Sweetnam, M.Ed., CHCP explains the difference between professional practice gaps and underlying educational needs. 

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The Difference Between Practice Gaps and Educational Needs

Continuing medical education providers are tasked with researching to uncover the professional practice gaps of their healthcare provider learners so they can design education that will help close those gaps. How do these gaps differ from underlying educational needs? Here are some examples to help you understand the difference.

Example 1:

Gap: PTSD is misdiagnosed in primary care settings amongst refugees emigrating to the U.S.

Educational need: Physicians lack knowledge of cultural values that are strictly adhered to amongst refugees that prevent meaningful conversation and interfere with the physician’s ability to make an accurate diagnosis. Physicians need strategies for how to initiate conversations about culturally sensitive issues.

Example 2:

Gap: Poor communication skills result in wrong site surgery.

Educational Need: Physicians need to know how and when to incorporate standardized checklists into pre-surgical routines.

Example 3:

Gap: Release of new billing codes has resulted in duplicate, wrongful, or rejected submissions by physicians.

Educational Need: Physicians need to differentiate between the old and out-of-date with the new in order to correctly submit accurate codes for billing purposes.​