News Release

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CMA to Host an Electronic Grand Rounds on SARS

Ottawa, April 7, 2003 —The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) announced today the hosting of electronic grand rounds, a special online medical education program to provide the physicians of Canada with the latest information on the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The presentation will be made by one of Canada's leading infectious disease experts, Dr. Don Low. 

Electronic grand rounds is an online information session that uses the Internet to provide physicians with current information on SARS. Registered physicians will be able to view and listen to an in-depth presentation prepared by Dr. Low and colleague Dr. Adrienne Chan and then be able to e-mail questions they may have to an online discussion forum.

“To better serve patients, as well as to help allay fears and respond to questions, it is important for physicians to have the most recent information on SARS,” said CMA President Dr. Dana Hanson. “Information is key to containing this outbreak. This interactive and user-friendly approach will provide physicians with information they need in real-time.”  

Beginning today, Dr. Low’s SARS presentation will be available to physicians whenever they choose to access it on www.cma.ca, the CMA’s website. The online interactive discussion forum will continue while there is significant interest. The presentation will also be available to the general public in a downloaded format on the CMA website, www.cma.ca.

“The CMA is fortunate to have a recognized expert such as Dr. Low leading the SARS grand rounds,” said Dr. Hanson. “The fact that Dr. Low will be on hand to respond to questions on an on-going basis is very reassuring.”

This information session is a part of the CMA’s continuing medical education program for physician members for which they can receive Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). The presentation has been prepared for GlobalMedic, the CMA’s Internet subsidiary by E-MedHosting.com Inc., a Montreal-based company.

For more information:            Carole Lavigne, Manager, Media Relations

                                                (613) 731-8610 or 1-800-663-7336 ext. 1266

                                                e-mail: carole.lavigne@cma.ca  

                                                CMA website: www.cma.ca