Value and Impact of CME Accreditation

in the ACCME System

2015 IAMRA Revalidation Symposium Graham T. McMahon, MD MMSc

President & Chief Executive, ACCME

“For the Profession, By the Profession”

As part of the system of medicine’s accountability, is it essential that CME be:

– Linked to quality and safety– Effective in improving practice– Independent of commercial interests– Based on valid content

…our mission and work is a public trust.

Voluntary, Self-Regulation

Learners of all types

Accredited Providers

Points and credits

Credentialing:Hospital InsurerHealth system

Licensing: State Medical Boards

Certification:Medical societies and boards

QualityActivity

Core Values of ACCME Accreditation

• Relevant• Independent• Evidence-based• Evaluated

What’s been achieved?• Uniform

– System and standards for provider accreditation

– System and standards for activity management

– Disclosure and conflict management principles

• Expectation of – Based on needs– Relevant– Appropriate pedagogy– Evidence-based– Independent – Evaluated – Integrated into system – Participation tracked– Appropriate funding

management

Major Challenges in CME• Poorly valued by

health leadership• Lack of engaged

clinician leaders• Inadequate

investment • Extreme diversity of

needs• Spamming of learners• Inadequate research

• Passive educational approaches

• Predominant focus on medical knowledge

• Passive learners• Shifting expectations

of learners• Confusing and diverse

credit systems

Key Opportunities

Health System

CME provider Learners

Invest in Meet the needs of

Provide feedback toDelivers value to

Scope of the Enterprise

ActivitiesHours of

Instruction147,024 1,033,615

Physician Interactions

Other Learner Interactions

13,599,687 11,587,518

2014 Reporting Year

Providers:1,225 SMS-accredited

683 ACCME-accredited

Accreditation Requirements

ProviderCME Mission &Continuous Quality Improvement

ActivityGaps/NeedsDesign to changeFormatsCompetenciesIndependenceEvaluation

Independence• Independence• Resolution of Personal Conflicts of Interest• Appropriate Use of Commercial Support• Appropriate Management of Associated

Commercial Promotion• Content and Format without Commercial

Bias• Disclosures Relevant to Potential

Commercial Bias

*Commercial Interest• “Any entity producing, marketing, reselling,

or distributing a healthcare good or service consumed by, or used on, patients.”

• ACCME does not consider providers of clinical service to patients to be commercial interests.

“Accredited CME is Independent”

Commendation Criteria

• CME Involved in Practice Improvement• Adjunctive Approaches to Education• Identifies Obstacles to Change• Overcomes Barriers to Change• Collaborates with Others• Integrates with QI• Strategic Leadership

Overall Compliance Results for November 2008 through July 2015 (n=1,123)

Accreditation Decisions November 2008 to July 2015

(n=1,123)

50%

29%

12% 3% 6%

July2015

(n=43)

CME Presented by Providers Accredited in the ACCME SystemPercentages Designed/ Analyzed for Change in

Competence, Performance, or Patient Outcomes - 2014

AHA: Continuing Medical Education as a Strategic Resource

AHA, Continuing Medical Education as a Strategic Resource, September 2014

“Members reported the majority of topics (54%) were specialty-specific or clinical in nature with only 18 percent focused on professional or leadership development and 18 percent on quality improvement.”

Advancing CME with accreditation

Revised Accreditation w/Commendation Criteria: A work in progress…

CME That Counts for MOC

“By collaborating with ACCME, ABIM will open the door to even

more options for physicians engaged in MOC and will allow

them to get MOC credit for high-quality CME activities they are

already doing.”

Richard J. Baron, MDPresident and CEO

American Board of Internal Medicine

Interprofessional Continuing education (IPCE)

www.jointaccreditation.org

Questions?