Fundamental to all educational programs is the need to evaluate the needs of the learner. Whether these pertain to physicians or allied health care providers: thereby determining the index of current practice performance and behavior. Core regularly undertakes needs assessment research to determine the educational gaps and learning needs as these relate to practitioner knowledge.

We conduct many forms of needs assessments including the following:

•	Focus groups
•	Questionnaire mailings
•	Ad hoc CME "needs" research
•	Literature searches and systematic reviews

Our educational programs embrace many traditional and non-traditional formats:

•	"Evidence-based" consensus conferences, and meetings
•	Advisory board meetings
•	Clinical practice guidelines by experts
•	Publication of clinical practice guidelines in
	peer-reviewed journals
•	Development of programs and multi-media products
	to implement guidelines
•	"Train-the-trainer" teaching programs
•	Community implementation programs for new guidelines
•	Education outcomes measurements, and evaluation of
	guidelines impact
•	Market positioning research
•	Training seminars for health care professionals