Continuing medical education (CME) is an important part of professional development, and every healthcare professional should be aware of the importance of attending CME courses. Continuing medical education is available in many forms, and many courses are online. However, each state has its requirements for CME, so it’s essential to know how to satisfy them.
Accredited Educational Activities
Continuing medical education (CME) is a process that helps physicians enhance their performance in practice. Accredited educational activities for continuing medical education meet or exceed the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) standards.
The ACCME is an accrediting body that sets and maintains standards for continuing medical education. ACCME comprises seven founding member organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Hospital Association, the Association for Hospital Medical Education, the Council for Medical Specialty Education, and the Federation of State Medical Boards. These organizations establish core competencies that must be included in all activities certified for Category 1 credit.
Accredited educational activities for continuing medical education are designed to promote improvement in the health of patients. This includes activities that provide information on new developments in medical practice, high-quality clinical outcomes, prevention, and other areas of interest. All accredited CME activities are designed to be interactive and informative. Often, the presenter and facilitators evaluate the activities, while the medical organization provides technical support and coordination.
ACCME also defines learning formats. These are based on the specific needs of physicians. The educational needs can be determined through QA/QI clinical practice reports, surveys of potential learners, and the identification of new skills and knowledge needed by physicians.
State-Specific Requirements
Continuing medical education (CME) requirements vary by state. They are mandated by state boards, which decide which topics physicians should know. Physicians can contact their state board directly or check online.
A state board may exempt a licensee from continuing education requirements for up to two years. During this period, licensees must meet basic needs for licensure. For more information, visit the Federation of State Medical Boards website.
A state board may require CME on a topic of special significance. This requirement is typically implemented in response to a particular problem or issue, such as the opioid epidemic.
State-specific requirements for continuing medical education are becoming more and more common across the United States. Often, physicians are required to attend several CME hours on a specific topic.
The most common state-specific CME requirement is the safe prescribing of opioids. This requirement applies to all licensed healthcare professionals. In addition, some state boards require CME on other subjects, such as suicide prevention. Those interested in meeting state-specific requirements for CME can contact their state medical board or the AMA Ed Hub. These websites offer email alerts for the state CME requirements of the day.
Continuing medical education is a complicated task. It requires a licensed physician to prioritize time and energy. It also is a balancing act between keeping up with field developments and providing quality care to patients.
Online CME Courses
Continuing medical education (CME) is the process of improving professional performance through education. Several states require physicians and other healthcare professionals to accrue certain credit hours each year to maintain their licenses. Continuing medical education courses are available online at your convenience.
Physicians and other experts design online continuing medical education courses to be engaging and educational. They are usually interactive and include video, audio, and multimedia content. Some of the courses are free, while others cost a fee.
CCME is part of the Stanford School of Medicine and is designed to improve physicians’ performance by delivering relevant and engaging learning experiences. Courses include interactive multimedia content, video, animated graphics, and other interactive features.
You must meet specific accreditation requirements to claim the best online CME courses. These courses should be designed to meet your particular needs as a healthcare professional. Some of these online courses are sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry.
The Stanford Center for Continuing Medical Education is an excellent example of a high-quality CME provider. CCME has a wide array of offerings, including video programs, monthly CME TV programs, and online courses. In addition, they offer courses in a wide variety of specialties.
AMA agreement with the European Board for Accreditation of Continuing Education for Health Professionals
Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credits for Europe are certified by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (UEMS-EACCME(r)). CME credit for Europe is recognized in more than 20 European countries. UEMS-EACCME(r) also certifies the quality of educational content.
In 2002, the European Board for Accreditation of Continuing Education for Health Professionals (EBAC(r)) signed an agreement with the American Medical Association (AMA). As a result, EBAC(r) recognizes AMA CME credits. In addition, EBAC(r) also certifies CME activities performed by EBAC(r)-accredited CME providers, such as web-based recorded educational programs.
EBAC(r) also recognizes CME credits for live activities outside the United States. A maximum of 18 ECMEC credits for the activity can be awarded. To qualify for CME credit, the physician must participate in the activity in full.
ECMEC credits can be earned by completing accredited e-learning programs in the United States or attending live educational activities worldwide. ECMEC credits can also be converted to AMA PRA Category 1 Credits (TM).
The AMA maintains an agreement of mutual recognition of CME credit with the European Union of Medical Specialists. The agreement also applies to the European Union of Medical Specialties and the European Union of Medical Specialists and Medical Specialties.
The European Board for Accreditation of Continuing Medical Education (UEMS-EACCME(r)) has a renewed agreement with the American Medical Association (AMA) that expires on July 31, 2022. Therefore, to convert EBAC(r) CME credits to AMA PRA Category 1 Credits, physicians must follow the instructions on the AMA website.
