Neuroscience Education Institute

The field of psychiatric and neurological medication is evolving, with new drugs and a better understanding of the benefits and risks of therapies. To treat patients struggling with mental health, clinicians must consider the ways in which the drug may affect each patient. This is where psychopharmacology comes in, combining psychology and pharmacology to provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to practice high-quality medicine in a multidisciplinary context of patient care.

“Psychopharmacology is a complex field of study that is further complicated as each patient responds to a drug uniquely. Prescribers, therefore, need to understand the mechanism of action for each drug to select the best medication for their patients,” says Sheri Mills, president of the Neuroscience Education Institute.

Consequently, to keep clinicians abreast of novel drug mechanisms and rapidly changing research, they need a support system for constant learning, made possible through continuing medical education (CME).

Neuroscience Education Institute (NEI) provides high-quality, visually engaging, evidence-based, fair, and balanced activities to increase the competence of healthcare professionals in diagnosing and treating psychiatric and neurologic disease states. By addressing specific disease states and developing content through gap analyses and needs assessments of healthcare professionals working in the field, its point-of-care tools and resources focus on various disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, sleep disorders, and more.

Through its work, NEI is simplifying complicated high science topics and helps clinicians make informed decisions on a case-by-case basis as they treat patients with mental health conditions. As psychopharmacology evolves, it stays at the forefront of the latest developments and provides healthcare professionals with the tools to deliver high-quality care to patients.

Building a Comprehensive, Learner-Centric Curriculum

NEI’s approach to healthcare education mirrors the attention to detail that healthcare professionals give to their patients.

It creates informative and engaging educational events and activities that enhance the overall learning experience. Its focus is on the latest developments in psychiatric and neurologic research, diagnosis, and treatment, with an emphasis on learnercentric educational principles.

To cater to diverse learning styles, NEI offers content in multiple formats, allowing audiences to choose the format that best suits them. It uses animation and visual aids to translate complex science into easy-to-understand visual content and augments it with verbal and written explanations. NEI also employs programmed learning to enhance retention, using repetition and interaction to reinforce learned material. In addition, it has created educational song parodies that increase retention and engagement.

NEI’s comprehensive CME program includes conferences, live sessions, online and print CME activities, and other resources. Its membership program grants exclusive access to the Master Psychopharmacology Program, NEI Prescribe, and CNS Spectrums, among other practical point-of-care resources. Members also enjoy discounts upon registration to NEI’s annual conferences.

NEI’s commitment to creating content independent of pharma-support has always been a significant factor that sets it apart. It has collected data from over 14,000 U.S.-based prescribers to ensure their content meets the needs of the practicing clinicians. In essence, its efforts to create new content and dedication to its members make it stand out in the field of healthcare education.

Besides meeting the continuing education needs of practicing healthcare professionals, NEI has developed a psychopharmacology curriculum used by nursing and residency programs across the country.

The New Standard in Continuing Medical Education

NEI quickly adapted to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since learners flocked to online platforms, it invested in software that enabled them to simulcast their in-person meetings, including the prestigious NEI Congress and NEI Synapse events. This high-definition production, treated as a full television broadcast, allows clinicians from all over the world to interact with the NEI faculty in real-time, whether attending remotely or in person.

The pandemic highlighted the need for mental health awareness and education, but unfortunately, there has been no corresponding increase in care providers addressing this issue.

To bridge this gap, NEI makes its materials accessible and relevant to its audience. “We improve the user experience for everyone and apply relevant standards,” says Mills. NEI’s dedication to providing high-quality, accessible education remains unchanged, even in the face of unprecedented challenges. By leveraging technology and prioritizing the user experience, it continues to be at the forefront of healthcare education.

Toward a Greater Corporate Vision

NEI’s mission as a healthcare education company has always been to assist professionals in providing better care. With over 45,000 mental health professionals returning to NEI for continuing education and professional growth needs, it has become a trusted resource in the industry. In support of improving patient care, NEI is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team and reviews outcome data and feedback from all activities to ensure their education makes a positive impact.

“We feel rewarded when healthcare professionals share how our education has helped them feel rejuvenated and empowered as they return to their practice. To up the ante, we are investing in optimizing the experience for our virtual audience as well,” says Meghan Grady, senior vice president, content and strategy, NEI.

NEI’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity extends beyond its members and faculty to its team. In line with this, it believes that diversity can enhance its value proposition by connecting it to its members and patients.

Looking ahead, NEI aims to create a dedicated space on its website for disseminating information about the mental health education needs of primary care professionals. It is also developing specific content and curriculum related to serious mental illnesses like mood disorders, psychotic illnesses, and treatments for suicide prevention.

“Our overarching mission is to give mental health professionals the tools they need to provide the best possible care,” adds Grady.

NEI’s passion for improving mental healthcare through education, commitment to continuous growth and inclusivity, and focus on enhancing the educational experience make it a unique player in the healthcare education industry. A trusted and reliable source of up-to-date information and resources for mental health professionals, it leverages its learnercentric educational principles, multiple learning styles, and technology to become the go-to destination for over 45,000 healthcare professionals. Developing new content and curriculum to optimize its virtual platform, NEI will remain committed to empower mental health professionals with the tools they need to provide the best possible care for their patients.