Med-E-Serv was founded on the view that collaboration and the effective operation of teams was a key mechanic to the improvement of healthcare delivery. Over the last 10 years, Med-E-Serv has established itself as a significant player in the facilitation of health care teams.

It has focussed itself on techniques of behavioural change such as professional development education that encourage health professionals to embrace and apply best practice. Med-E-Serv's education products, in particular, are used by thousands of health professionals across the country in small group settings and via the Internet.

Med-E-Serv was established in 1994 to deliver electronically-based services to health professionals Australia-wide. Since that time, the company has become a trusted name for electronically facilitated groups engaging in secure communications, group activities and on-line learning.

This trust is built on the credibility of the company, its services and its staff. It stems from the close relationships Med-E-Serv has been able to establish with over 80 health organizations which range from the key learned Colleges to peak bodies in therapeutic areas such as gastroenterology, respiratory disease, pain, diabetes and rheumatology.

Med-E-Serv is very much part of the health community, and has been fortunate to work with GPs, procedural specialists, nurses, pharmacists, community health workers, hospital administrators and allied health professionals. Through hundreds of projects, we have learned about their learning needs, the nuances of their learning approach and even their sense of humour. We have learned of their differences as well as their similarities. It is this insight that has been crafted into our educational methodologies and software and into the standard products/services we offer.

Med-E-Serv has built an enviable reputation for the development of high integrity education and content. Integrity is fundamental to a company which deals each day with the education of health professionals. Our close relationships with learned Colleges, peak bodies and universities ensure that we draw on the best expertise. Key to our success, however, is that Med-E-Serv has also developed standards for the development of its educational content which guarantees its independence from commercial bias.

Med-E-Serv has demonstrated expertise in the area of facilitating and supporting relationships between health professionals and third parties in the health industry. As a trusted, independent intermediary, Med-E-Serv is considered by many Australian health professionals to be the key enabler of multi-stakeholder projects and initiatives.

Med-E-Serv Solutions develops and implements solutions for healthcare suppliers and member-based organisations. The team at Med-E-Serv combines the broad resources of a national Internet solutions provider, and the strategic counsel of medical professionals and educators, and over 8 years of experience across more than 200 successful programs.

Innovation has been critical to Med-E-Serv's development. We have created numerous 'firsts' including

• first secure national health intranet
  
• world's first secure web based group discussion tool;
  
• world's first online medical conference;
  
• Australia's first online medical databases;
  
• first online accredited medical education in Australia;
  
• first online clinical benchmarking systems

Med-E-Serv has developed platform and product intellectual property that enables it to provide robust, secure services for its customers and users. In particular, the Med-E-Serv Education Framework is a highly functional on-line education platform for delivering collaborative adult learning models that supports a highly personalized view of the education experience. The Education Framework includes a Personal Learning Journal which records progress through each education experience and manages the recording of 'points' where these form part of the accreditation/assessment process.

Med-E-Serv is the pre-eminent provider of online education to health professionals in Australia. We are currently working with the third generation of our learning environment which now reflects our detailed understanding of how to build engaging case-based education for health professionals. Our development methodologies ensure that we are able to create multiple delivery mechanics in one step. Med-E-Serv uses a proven cost-effective development path to create Internet-delivered courseware, as well as CD-enabled and print materials that support facilitated small-group activity. The result is users/students who demonstrate significant improvement in skills and understanding whilst expressing high satisfaction levels and a willingness to re-engage with online courseware.