Half of medical device firms responding to a recent survey said field-based medical education staffing will increase, by 10% or more, in the next two years.

Best Practices LLC, which surveyed 14 med ed leaders from 10 device companies, also found that the device sector is spending millions to incorporate iPads/tablets into education because the technology is a good fit for the animations and simulations that facilitate device training.

Particularly in the surgical field, physicians need training in the safe and effective use of new medical devices, and device firms are devoting significant planning and resources to their med ed function.

“Medical device education groups are trying to add new programs and increase their effectiveness while holding down costs and keeping pace with technology,” Best Practices said in a statement.

However, organizations are struggling to find the right staffing, investment, program types and delivery platforms to provide education opportunities for HCPs, the research and consulting firm said.

Among other findings, technology-based educational programs are set to explode in the next two years. Fifty-eight percent of device participants said they project more than 30% growth. In pharma, by contrast, most (61%) of med-ed participants projected increases of 10% or more in the technology area (Best Practices interviewed 26 leaders from 25 pharma companies).