A healthcare media company working with XM Satellite Radio has launched a 24/7 channel aimed at helping healthcare providers stay current with medical advances. ReachMD’s short-form programming, beamed via satellite signal XM 233, was launched at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting in New Orleans last March.

“All the stars are aligned,” joked Mike Seinfeld, ReachMD chief executive.

Programming, hosted by MD- and PhD-level clinicians/researchers, includes clinicians’ roundtable discussion, breaking medical news and special shows. ReachMD plans to offer CME credits via a voice-activated cell phone system starting next month, Seinfeld told MM&M.

Satellite broadcasting is the latest frontier among a burgeoning array of platforms for educating physicians.

ReachMD says it fills a new niche. “[Physicians] needed a national platform to discuss clinical issues that they deal with every day,” said Sharon Griff, ReachMD VP of marketing.

A partnership allows  ReachMD to cull highlights from AMA publication AM News weekly. An editorial board of content advisors, medical producers and reviewers scours medical journals and other sources for topics. Current sponsors include Amgen.

ReachMD was started by obstetrician David Preskill, who didn’t have time to keep up with medical news. Griff cited another reason for the always-on physician news channel: the increasingly informed patient.

“It would be nice for physicians to be as up-to-date or more than the patients they are treating,” she said.