Leveraging State-Supported Continuing Education for Health Care Professionals to Address Public Health Priorities: A 5-Year Retrospective Case Study on the District of Columbia Program

Abstract

This case study explores the development, implementation, and outcomes of an innovative public health continuing education program designed by the District of Columbia Department of Health to align health care professionals’ education with public health priorities. The District of Columbia Center for Rational Prescribing program released high-quality accessible education to health care professionals from October 2020 through July 2024. With 15 504 enrollments and a 71.9% completion rate, the program demonstrated substantial engagement of health care professionals. Additionally, of the 10 824 participants who completed a postcourse survey, 90.8% agreed or strongly agreed that the courses enabled them to make key decisions in their practice. These findings indicate not only that the program attracted many participants but also that state-supported topics were highly relevant and applicable to the professionals’ practices, equipping them with tools to tackle public health issues in their communities.