Internet CME

Live or enduring material activities that are provided via the Internet are considered to be “Internet CME.” Internet CME must comply with all ACCME Essential Areas and Elements (including the Standards for Commercial Support) and Accreditation Policies. However, there are specific requirements for Internet CME because of the nature of the activities:

NEW (08/2007) -- Activity Location: ACCME accredited providers may not place their CME activities on a website owned or controlled by a 'commercial interest.'

Links to Product Websites: With clear notification that the learner is leaving the educational website, links from the website of an ACCME accredited provider to pharmaceutical and device manufacturers’ product websites are permitted before or after the educational content of a CME activity, but shall not be embedded in the educational content of a CME activity.

NEW (08/2007) -- Transmission of information: For CME activities in which the learner participates electronically (e.g., via Internet, CD-ROM, satellite broadcasts), all required ACCME information must be transmitted to the learner prior to the learner beginning the CME activity. All new CME activities released on or after January 1, 2008 must conform to this policy.  Existing CME activities that are reviewed and re-released after January 1, 2008 must conform to this policy.

Advertising: Advertising of any type is prohibited within the educational content of CME activities on the Internet including, but not limited to, banner ads, subliminal ads, and pop-up window ads. For computer based CME activities, advertisements and promotional materials may not be visible on the screen at the same time as the CME content and not interleafed between computer ‘windows’ or screens of the CME content.

Hardware/Software Requirements: The accredited provider must indicate, at the start of each Internet CME activity, the hardware and software required for the learner to participate.

Provider Contact Information: The accredited provider must have a mechanism in place for the learner to be able to contact the provider if there are questions about the Internet CME activity.

Policy on Privacy and Confidentiality: The accredited provider must have, adhere to, and inform the learner about its policy on privacy and confidentiality that relates to the CME activities it provides on the Internet.

Copyright: The accredited provider must be able to document that it owns the copyright for, or has received permissions for use of, or is otherwise permitted to use copyrighted materials within a CME activity on the Internet.