The Value of Accredited CME

• Improves patient safety. CME has been shown to be one of the most effective methods for improving physician performance (1).

• Controls spending. Unnecessary medical procedures, prescriptions, and hospital readmissions are averted (2, 3).

• Increases physician recruitment and retention. CME has been linked to a decrease in physician burnout and turnover (4, 5, 6). Physicians thrive through meaningful work and feedback tied to their own practice.

• Protects physician learners. Commercial influence in medical education puts learners at increased risk (7). Accreditation protects the integrity and independence of medical education, ensuring it is accurate and based on best practices (8, 9).

• Uses teams to improve care. Interprofessional teams are empowered to work more effectively together to achieve their organization’s quality improvement and strategic goals (10).

• Expands preventative care. Accredited CME has a proven track record of life-saving interventions. It has been linked to increases in stroke identification, timeliness of care, cancer screenings, pediatric immunizations, and more (11, 12).

For organizations looking to innovate, investing in accredited CME can provide a remarkably cost-effective solution. CME professionals know how to improve performance, eliminate waste, and inspire and reward valued employees. CME is designed to plan, assess, and create change (13).

Engagement and participation in CME is at record levels, with roughly 250,000 accredited educational activities and over 22 million physician interactions reported in 2024 (14).

Organizations that invest in accredited CME can expect a meaningful return on their investment—it makes change possible for physicians, teams, and our larger healthcare system.