LAMED Process for Continuing Medical Education for Physicians
Preamble:
The criteria of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Ohio State Medical Association are used to plan and implement all CME activities. The criteria format described is used exactly.
LAMED is responsible for the content, quality and scientific integrity of all CME activities designated for credit. Identification of continuing medical education needs, determination of educational objectives, and selection of content, faculty, educational methods and materials is the responsibility of LAMED. Similarly, evaluation must be designated and performed by LAMED.
Steps in Progress
1. Identify educational needs and document from the following sources/notify LAMED at least 6 months prior to activity:
§ Results of QA studies or other in-house statistics
§ Needs assessment tools
§ Administrative decision to advance physician practice
§ Research into new therapies, techniques, or procedures
§ Specialists or procedures newly available to our practice area
§ Medical staff committees/departments or CME Committee members
§ Verbal input from potential participants
§ Patient/community voiced concerns
2. Obtain appropriate input from specialists or people of expertise in the identified area. Show all information to the medical director and then put on CME Committee agenda if so directed. The Committee will decide whether to plan an activity and the appropriate format to be used.
3. In cooperation with the medical director, consult the planning calendar showing date available, select a date or several dates in which to schedule the educational activity
§ Schedule a location for the meeting
4. Seek commercial educational grant(s) if assistance is needed to meet honoraria/meeting expenses and initiate a written agreement. The agreement identifies that LAMED will maintain responsibility for the following: (See Policy on Commercial Support)
§ Determination of objectives/content
§ Selection of presenter
§ Awarding of contact hours
§ Record keeping
§ Evaluation
§ Administration of the budget
All AMA criteria for designation of category 1 CME must be met.
5. Select appropriate faculty, negotiate honoraria and confirm in writing. Send faculty disclosure statement. Learner objectives may be included in initial confirmation or sent when approved by CME Committee. Faculty may be located using the following sources:
§ CME Committee
§ Potential participants
§ Professional staff of medical schools or teaching hospitals
§ Other CME providers
§ Speaker bureaus of health or commercial organizations
§ Local physician specialists
6. CME Program Manager will monitor faculty disclosure declaration forms; if a conflict exists will notify Director of Medical Education (DME).
§ Any refusal for full financial disclosure will result in denying of CME approval.
7. DME will attempt to resolve conflict of interest through the following methods:
§ Review faculty presentation for possible conflicts, if appropriate, continue with activity.
§ Alter control over content (i.e. learner objectives, format)
§ Change the focus of the CME activity (i.e. activity not about products or services of the commercial interest that is the basis of conflict of interest, the speaker might be asked to address pathophysiology or diagnosis of a condition, rather than therapeutics)
§ Limit the content to a report without recommendations (i.e. faculty is funded by a commercial company to perform research; they may be limited to the data and results of the research. Additional faculty may be assigned to address broader implications and recommendations)
§ Limit the sources for recommendations (i.e. faculty would be requested to present summaries from the systematic reviews assigned by the DME, Board/CME Committee)
§ If unable to resolve, Board/CME Committee members will be called upon to review and assess for a resolution.
§ If modifications cannot be made, the conflict of interest is not resolved. The program planner will need to locate another faculty member or Category 1 CME credit will not be awarded for the activity.
§ At any point, LAMED always has the option of withdrawing the CME request if it is unwilling or unable to address compliance issues.
8. Designation of category 1 CME by CME Committee/Board of Trustees
§ Approve format and faculty
§ Approve, modify, or complete learner objectives
§ Designate activity as meeting criteria for category 1 hours
w Activities must be of at least 45 minutes in length to designate for 1 hour (CME designation should not be granted for less than 1 hour)
w Time should be included for a question/answer period
w Portions of time should be rounded to the nearest 0.25 hour
w Do not include time spent in breaks or meals
9. Complete any necessary planning for activity.
§ Send catering request if food/beverages are to be served
§ Order audiovisual equipment/technician, if needed
§ Send housekeeping room setup request via Lotus notes
§ Submit accreditation form for AAFP approval
§ Copy curriculum vitae for introduction by medical director and include any
commercial support information and faculty disclosure
10. Notify potential participants of activity
§ List on monthly CME calendar
§ Send fax/e-mail to OSMA if appropriate
§ Mail flyers to targeted participants
§ Post flyers in physician lounges at SRMC and LMHS
11. Dispense and collect signed evaluation forms at activity
§ Enter participant credit in computer from signed evaluations
§ Mail certificates of attendance to out-of-town physicians and non-physician
attendees or hand these to participants in exchange for signed evaluations
§ Prepare evaluation summative and send with thank-you letter and honoraria check to faculty
12. Verify file is complete
Appropriate Language
The following statement to appear on all brochures, flyers, or other marketing materials:
LAMED is accredited by the Ohio State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
LAMED designates this educational activity for a maximum of (number of hours) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.
Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The following statement to appear on physician certificates:
LAMED certifies that (name of physician) has participate in the educational activity titled (title) at (location, if applicable) on (date) and is awarded (number) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.
If approved for AAFP credit, include the following statement:
This program has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to (prescribed or elective) credit hours by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Reviewed and Approved by Board of Trustees/CME Committee: 3.18.2003: 10.21.2003: 5.18.2004: 9.19.2006
Reviewed approved by Board of Trustees (email): 6.25.09