INSIDE BRIGHAMRAD - PROVIDING RADIOLOGY TEACHING CASES ON THE INTERNET

The Internet provides opportunities for widely distributing educationa l materials such as teaching files, Since a teaching file is both a tr adition and a requirement in an accredited diagnostic radiology traini ng program, many of the same resources can be committed to designing i t for Internet access, The advantages include easier availability for the department residents and fellows, communication to a wider audienc e, the opportunity for networking and collaboration with other institu tions during development, and making information available far more ra pidly than traditional publications, Since material available on the I nternet represents an alternative means of publication, all cases in a n electronic teaching file, as is the case with BrighamRad, should be subject to peer review, A successful computer-based teaching file requ ires department-wide commitment of trainees and staff as well as addit ional expertise in multimedia instruction, computer-based graphics and design, image manipulation, programming, and database management, Qua lity efforts take time and require continual adaptation and support as technology and the laws and customs governing the use of electronical ly published material evolve, The process should be ongoing, and the d epartmental commitment must be long term and continuous.