News

REGISTER FOR THE 2023 ACCME ACCREDITATION WORKSHOP ON AUGUST 3-4

New to accredited CE? The 2023 ACCME Accreditation Workshop is for you! Join us in Chicago on August 3-4 for an in-person workshop to learn more about the ACCME’s requirements and expectations for accreditation, including an in-depth look at the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited CE, and how to position your organization to pursue Accreditation with Commendation.

Together we will explore strategies for planning effective CE that supports your learners, your organization, and the community you serve.

Looking for a broader overview of accredited CE in advance of the workshop? Join our pre-conference Newcomers Orientation on Wednesday, August 2 for an introduction to what it means to be accredited in the ACCME system, including the value of accredited CE for physicians and the public.

Register here.

Questions? We’re happy to help! Reach out to education@accme.org.

JOIN UPCOMING WEBINAR TO LEARN ABOUT NEW ABS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

ACCME is offering a webinar on July 26 from 1:00-2:00 pm CT to help accredited CME providers navigate the new credit reporting requirements of the American Board of Surgery (ABS).

Although the ABS is discontinuing self-reporting of credits by diplomates effective July 1, 2023, you still have until the end of the year to report any credits earned after July 1. 

During the webinar, ACCME staff will: 

• Explain the ABS reporting requirements;
• Suggest strategies to start registering and reporting credit for activities most popular with surgeons;
• Offer tips for building more capacity in your program to register and report credit for more activities.

MATE ACT NOW IN EFFECT

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released materials related to the new Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act. The Act requires new or renewing DEA licensees to have completed a total of at least eight hours of training on opioid or other substance use disorders and the appropriate treatment of pain.

Beginning a few days ago, on June 27, 2023, practitioners must have completed the one-time education requirement before applying for a license for the first time or to have their license renewed.

ACCME compiled a number of frequently asked questions to address potential inquiries related to the MATE Act and accredited continuing education (CE), available here.

ACCME Academy 

EXPLORE NEW ACCME ACADEMY COURSE IN THE TOOLS FOR INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE CURRICULUM 

Looking to learn more about the Standards for Integrity and Independence? Check out a new course in the Tools for Integrity and Independence Curriculum - Implementing the Standards in Your CE Program. This 60-minute course explores the strategic value of the Standards and provides tools and strategies for their implementation.

After completing this course, you will understand how to:

• Articulate the value of the Standards to your CE program stakeholders, including organizational leaders, educational planners and faculty, and health professional learners;
• Discuss how and why the Standards have evolved;
• Identify strategies for implementing the Standards at your organization; and 
• Use ACCME-developed toolkits, templates, and other supportive resources to implement the Standards for your accredited CE program. 

Access to the course is free for accredited CME providers with an ACCME Academy user account. Simply click this link and log in to your ACCME Academy account.

Education & Resources

LIVE WEBINAR ON INEQUITY IN HEALTH CARE ON AUGUST 8

Join the next National Health Equity Grand Rounds event, Breaking Down the Ivory Tower: Building the Health Care Workforce America Needs, on Tuesday, August 8 from 2:00-3:30 pm ET. In an era of historic shortages, expert speakers will elevate strategies to support students and trainees from each of our communities, creating a diverse and thriving health care workforce. Health care professionals may receive no-cost continuing medical education (CME) credit by attending.

The National Health Equity Grand Rounds series is developed by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, American Medical Association, National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, and RespectAbility.

ACCREDITATION MYTH OF THE MONTH

To support your successful implementation of the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, we’re debunking common myths around accreditation and sharing ways to efficiently plan your CE activities.

Myth: It is better to over-collect disclosures from individuals in an abundance of caution. Examples include asking about financial interests for family members, going beyond two years, not using the proper definition, or asking for new information after the event.

Reality: Only collect what is required by ACCME for the purposes of CME accreditation—anything more does not increase your compliance and may be cumbersome for your team and the individual. Learn about disclosure requirements from the ACCME here.

“Collecting more disclosures and writing more text in your self-study doesn’t improve your compliance—similar to back in college when writing more blue books didn’t guarantee a higher exam grade. Having the correct practices and demonstrating these practices succinctly is all you need.” –Elizabeth Nettleton

Looking for more information? Explore our standards resources webpage, frequently asked questions, and tips for simplifying CE planning.

JOURNAL ARTICLE: IDENTIFYING CREDIBLE SOURCES OF HEALTH INFORMATION IN SOCIAL MEDIA

In an article published by the National Academy of Medicine, “Identifying Credible Sources of Health Information in Social Media: Phase 2,” authors including Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, President and CEO, ACCME, discuss the importance of elevating credible sources of health information online to assist consumers in finding trustworthy information and decrease the spread of misinformation. Read the full article here.

Careers

The ACCME has two open positions:

• Full stack .Net Developer (React, Azure DevOps, SQL Server): This role will work closely with the Data Services team to design, develop and implement features for ACCME’s critical, custom applications: the Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS) and CME Passport.
• Director, Information Technology: This role supports the long range ACCME digital strategy and provides day-to-day management for customer success/help desk activity, systems development, hardware acquisition, system integrations, networks, voice/telecommunications equipment, cloud operations, security, and computer applications.