February 18, 2026 | Education, Real World Outcomes, rare disease

For the millions of people living with a rare disease, the path to a diagnosis (if ever received) is often a long and frustrating odyssey. This delay is frequently driven by a simple but systemic hurdle: many healthcare professionals (HCPs) rarely encounter specific rare conditions in daily practice, and symptoms are often variable and non-specific, leading to missed signs and misdiagnoses. However, new research by Medscape presented at the World Orphan Drug Congress Europe 2025 suggests a powerful solution lies in precision targeted medical education.
A series of analyses conducted by Medscape Education Global evaluated how online Continuing Medical Education (CME) influences real-world clinical behavior. By tracking insurance claims and National Provider Identifier (NPI) data, researchers compared clinicians who participated in rare disease education against similar cohorts who did not. The results across various specialties—neurology, gastroenterology, and endocrinology—were consistent and striking.

The significance of these findings rests in the shift from theoretical knowledge and competence to active clinical application. By providing online, accessible education on a free, membership-based platform, rare disease education gives doctors the knowledge, competence, and confidence to order the right diagnostic tests, and apply the correct diagnostic codes earlier.
These studies suggest that online education is a powerful clinical intervention and a positive lever to improve patient outcomes. By equipping healthcare providers with the tools to recognize “the zebras among the horses,” we can shorten the diagnostic journey, ensuring patients receive life-altering treatments years earlier than they otherwise would.
References:
About Medscape Education
Medscape Education (medscape.org) is the leading destination for continuous professional development, consisting of more than 30 specialty-focused destinations offering thousands of free CME and CE courses for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professional
This content was provided by Medscape Education
Company Details
Latest Content from Medscape Education
Medscape Education is proud to share its monumental success at the EHA 2024 Congress. Our continued commitment to patient-centric medical education was evident throughout the event, with notable achievements and…
“I always enjoyed solving problems and putting puzzles together,” says Harmony Garges, MD, CMO at ViiV Healthcare and a pediatric infectious disease specialist. “So for me, infectious disease was a…
Medscape Education presented seven scientific posters at this year’s American Diabetes Association (ADA) conference in Orlando, Florida. These posters highlighted the outcomes of Medscape Education’s continuing medical education programs, which…
Medscape Education will be attending HLTH Europe from June 17-20. Be sure to drop by our booth to participate in our survey and enjoy exciting giveaways. Additionally, Dr. John Whyte,…
As a leader in medical education and proud sponsor of the 2024 Digital Therapeutics Summit, Medscape is excited to announce that Medscape Education’s Chief Strategy Officer, Christina Hoffman, will be…
ASCO is one of the biggest conferences of the year for Medscape Oncology, and the team is ready to make an impact in Chicago. They’ll be manning booth #26030, where…
Medscape Oncology is excited to announce the launch of the first-ever Medscape Fellows Program at the 2024 ASCO meeting in Chicago, Illinois. This groundbreaking program aims to nurture young oncology…
Are you having trouble navigating the management of food allergies? Join our faculty experts for a live conversation on social media to learn about the evolving complexities in food allergy…
Two global patient advocacy groups—The Lymphoma Coalition and Lung Cancer Europe— are compiling data from their communities on the real-world experience of living with cancer. What the data reveals sometimes…
Anticipation is building at Medscape Education as the team prepares for the EHA 2024 Congress. Medscape Education is excited to announce a significant presence during the congress including a Medscape…
