What is PARS?
ACCME’s Program and Activity Reporting System or PARS, is a centralized web-based system for the collection and management of activity and program data from accredited continuing medical education providers. PARS streamlines data reporting from accredited CME providers into one central location. Through a period of transition, data submission through PARS will replace both the Microsoft Excel spreadsheets used in the accreditation process, as well as the online system that providers have used to submit data each year for the ACCME Annual Report.
The ACCME has created a series of Getting Started videos to introduce you to some of the key features of PARS. Each video in this series provides a quick overview of what you need to know to get started using PARS. This video overview will explore who is able to use PARS, what information the ACCME collects through PARS, and ways you can get help using PARS.
Who can use PARS?
PARS is available for use by all ACCME-accredited providers. The ACCME has created unique login IDs and passwords for those individuals currently designated by the accredited provider as its primary contact, billing contact, and Chief Executive Officer. Providers are able to manually add up to two additional users who may have access to their organization’s records in PARS. Scroll to the bottom of the page to view users that have been associated with your account.
What information will ACCME collect through PARS?
PARS collects the same CME activity information that providers are currently required to submit for purposes of reaccreditation, such as the name, date, and location of each activity provided. PARS has been designed to collect additional data and information to enable the ACCME and accredited providers to gain a more detailed and comprehensive picture of the national CME enterprise. These additional fields are optional and record information such as: sub-categories of activity types, an activity identification number that the provider assigns, the number of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ that were designated for the activity, and a description of the content the CME activity addressed. If commercial support was received, another set of additional fields appear asking you to choose the source of the commercial support, the amount of commercial support received from each source, and the nature of in-kind support that was received. Although this information may help the ACCME and its accredited providers demonstrate the value and scope of CME to system stakeholders, you are not required to submit data for these optional fields.
On the “Program Summary” tab, PARS collects aggregated information about the income and expenses of your CME program.
And, PARS also serves as the place where you can make updates to your contact information and view your organization’s accreditation information.
How can I get help with PARS?
There are a number of ways that you can get help using PARS. Within PARS, you’ll notice a “Help” link at the top of each page. When you click on “Help”, you’ll come to this screen that explains the support and education resources available to you. Look here to find links to educational content – such as answers to frequently-asked-questions and other instructional videos like the one you’re watching right now. These links will open the ACCME’s educational website page in a new browser window, so be sure that your Internet settings allow for “pop up” windows to open from the PARS website.
Another way to get the answers and explanations you are looking for is through the question mark icons that are found on each PARS page. If you place your mouse over the question mark next to a particular PARS item, you will either see a tool-tip description appear – like this, or, you may also see your mouse cursor change from an arrow into a pointing hand – like this.
The pointing hand tells you that you can click on this item to open a frequently-asked-question regarding this PARS field. This frequently asked question will opn in a new Internet browser window.
Lastly, the ACCME is dedicated to supporting your use of PARS. If you have any question that you can’t find the answer to, or need further support, click “Help” to return to the help page, then click on the “Contact Support” button. You’ll be able to submit your question or comments via the form provided and an ACCME staff member will review your questions and respond directly to help you.
