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Support Vaccination Efforts for Healthcare Professionals; Register for Virtual Accreditation Workshop; Standards Resources to Support Your Transition

Volume

12

Number

17

News

REGISTER BY JULY 29 FOR THE VIRTUAL ACCREDITATION WORKSHOP Virtual Accreditation Workshop

New to CME? The ACCME 2021 Accreditation Workshop is for you! This blended learning experience is an essential professional development opportunity for those who are new to accredited continuing education. Through both asynchronous content on ACCME Academy and engagement in two days of virtual meetings, we will explore together the ACCME’s requirements and expectations for accreditation and learn how to apply them. You can find more information about who should attend this workshop, what to expect, and how to register at www.accmeworkshop.org. The deadline to register is July 29, 2021.

We’re offering a special opportunity to bundle your workshop registration with access to the ACCME Academy course, “Newcomers’ Introduction to Accredited Continuing Education Curriculum” at a discounted rate. Check out the Newcomers’ Add-on webpage on the workshop website for more information.

REPORTING LEARNER DATA IN NEW PARS: MORE OPPORTUNITIES, IMPROVED PROCESS 

In response to requests from accredited providers, the new, improved Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS) will expand your options for reporting learner data and streamline the process.  

  • You'll have the option to enter, track, and manage physician-learner data for all your activities, not only those registered for Maintenance of Certification (MOC)/Continuing Certification. 
  • We'll provide a more streamlined process for entering learner data by implementing improved learner matching, the ability to report CME and MOC/Continuing Certification participation in the same record, and reduced data entry in the web form. 
  • Data entry via the web form: For most learners, you'll only need to enter their first name, last name, month and day of birth (not year), and state of licensure to make a match. 
  • Access to a learner matching application programming interface (API) will allow you to pre-validate learner-identification data prior to entering information about participation in CME and MOC/Continuing Certification. This process will reduce rejections by allowing you to correct the information prior to sending the completion to PARS. 
  • We'll provide a standard data-sharing permission statement as an option for you to use when seeking permission from your physician-learners to collect and report their data. 

Read more about new PARS here.

ACCME ENCOURAGES ACCREDITED PROVIDERS TO SUPPORT LOCAL VACCINATION EFFORTS FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS Healthcare providers

There has been an alarming resurgence in COVID-19 infections among unvaccinated people including healthcare professionals. CME is a trusted source of information for the healthcare community and an appropriate dissemination source for information related to the safety, efficacy, and availability of vaccines. The ACCME joins the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in urging healthcare professions to get vaccinated. Read the AAMC statement here. 

We encourage accredited providers to leverage their educational infrastructure to ensure that healthcare professionals understand the importance of vaccination for themselves, their families, and their patients. 

"During the past year, the CME community, although faced with unprecedented challenges, stepped up and offered critically needed education to clinicians and teams. I realize many of us have pandemic fatigue—but we cannot stop. COVID-19 infections are rising again, and I urge you to continue to direct your resources and energy to educate your learners about the vaccines. As educators and healthcare professionals, we must lead by example. By getting vaccinated and educating others, each of us can help to protect the clinicians, teams, patients, and families we all serve." —Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, President and CEO, ACCME 

Our COVID-19 resources page for clinicians and educators hosts information to help clinicians confidently and safely administer the COVID-19 vaccines, as well as resources to support accredited providers develop and deliver education about the COVID-19 vaccines.

JOIN OUR TEAM OF VOLUNTEER SURVEYORS 

Looking for an opportunity for professional development and interaction with your colleagues? Consider applying to join our team of accreditation surveyors. As a surveyor, you’ll serve a key role in our multi-level peer review process for accredited providers. Surveyors review providers' materials, and, in teams of two, have collegial conversations with providers to ensure that the ACCME has complete information to proceed with fair, consistent decision-making. In this way, surveyors make an invaluable contribution to supporting our self-regulatory CME system. 

The ACCME Surveyor Application is available here and includes criteria for surveyor eligibility and competencies that are required to become an ACCME surveyor. The ACCME will provide necessary training and support throughout the volunteer process.  

If you have questions regarding surveyor eligibility or the application review process, please contact info@accme.org. 

Education and Resources 

STANDARDS RESOURCES TO SUPPORT YOUR TRANSITION 

We want to do everything we can to support your successful implementation of the new Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Accredited CME providers are expected to comply with the Standards that are applicable to their organizations by January 1, 2022. The following resources are available:   

For more resources and information, visit our Standards webpage.   

WORKING GROUP INSIGHTS FROM THE ACCME 2021 MEETING 

One highlight of the ACCME 2021 Meeting this past spring was the introduction of a new longitudinal learning experience—Working Groups. Proposed by meeting participants, the Working Groups were designed to facilitate collaboration to create tools and resources for the CE community. The ACCME is now collaborating with each Working Group to help them share the story of their journey and disseminate their final products to the CE community. Read more about the Working Groups here. 

Participate in the CME Professional Development Survey 

The purpose of the Working Group, Beyond the CME Office: Professional Development of Departments and Unit-Based CME Leaders to Help Advance the Field of CME, was to examine both the preparedness of CME professionals to plan and deliver effective CME that generates meaningful improvements in healthcare, as well as their engagement in ongoing professional development opportunities to advance the field of CME. The Working Group created a Professional Development survey to gather information about CME professionals' engagement in continuing professional development. 

The survey will take approximately five minutes to complete. Please participate in the survey by Friday, August 20.  

Career Opportunities Join our team

The ACCME has two position openings. Interested candidates should send their cover letter and resume to 230resumes@mysynergy.com.   

  • PROGRAM SUPPORT SPECIALIST: We are seeking a Program Support Specialist to support accredited providers, collaboration partners, staff, and volunteers in their use and understanding of the ACCME's Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS).  
  • COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: We are seeking a Communications Coordinator to support and improve the ACCME’s communications via multiple channels including websites, social media, podcasts, e-newsletters, articles, and reports.

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