The importance of life long learning

Abstract

The concepts of evidence-based practice and clinical governance are slowly becoming commonplace in practitioners' everyday terminology. The concepts of accreditation, re-accreditation and external appraisal and validation loom in the not too distant future. However, are these terms so frighteningly divorced from the reality of standard family practice? Are practitioners life long learners by default, driven by an ability to maintain general health care? Or is life long learning something that practitioners must develop post graduation? In an attempt to answer these questions, this paper briefly discusses the historical development of life long learning and poses questions as to its applicability into daily practice.