To sum up experience in the conduction of CME in Shanghai in the past three years and to explore the orientation of CME development, in early 1999 we investigated via random sampling the current situation of CME in 30 third-tier, second-tier and first-tier hospitals. The results indicate that work in CME has received general approval and the existing rules and regulations are feasible. Yet there are also some problems, including mainly ①lack of links among departments and regions and of unity between organization and management; ②insufficient stress on practical results in program establishment; ③imperfection of the credit and examination system; ④lack of standardization in charges for various programs; ⑤lack of effective standards in evaluating results. Solutions are then put forward with regard to the above problems.