Advice on making continuing education (CE) responsive to the practice needs of professionals in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and public health is provided in 16 chapters. Attention is directed to: establishing realistic goals, tailoring programs to specific needs, recruiting subject matter experts, evaluating programs and making improvements, supporting self-directed learners, and applying new knowledge in improving patient care. As introduction, the context for the Continuing Education Systems Project is described, with attention to the conceptual model of CE. Each of 137 quality elements in CE are defined, and applications to the operations of CE are described. These elements are based on findings about how adult health professionals learn and also on motivational theories. Additional topics include: information-seeking behaviors of a group of Michigan family physicians; the history of continuing medical education; CE provider unit roles; the educational development process, specifically needs assessment, program design and evaluation; decisionmaking in the CE provider unit; a strategic management approach to leadership; management information systems; and systems for assuring quality. Checklists, tables, and sample forms are provided to aid in each stage of program development. (SW)