The Value of Continuing Education in the Health Professions

The Value of Continuing Education in the Health Professions: Perspectives from CE Professionals and Organizations

“Accredited CME connects current practice to best practice. “Accredited CME is one of our nation’s strategic assets for improving care – and an important partner for change to your physicians and your community of practice.” From: 2008 ACCME publication, CME as a Bridge to Quality

Our Purposes Have Shifted! Previous CME Office Purposes: Put on educational activities, Raise $$ with grants and tuition Provide CME credit New CPD Office Purposes: Create learning experiences that assist physicians in adapting to new realities, Link learning to physician performance, Contribute to enhancing quality of healthcare, reducing costs and increasing patient safety

From: Joseph Green, PhD & Sharon Confessore, PhD, 2012 Alliance Annual Conference Learning Organizations Presentation

“The FSMB (Federation of State Medical Boards) believes that lifelong, continuing medical education is an effective means of physician learning and change as part of a system of continuous professional development. As medical boards begin developing maintenance of licensure programs, accredited CME can be an important source of support for physicians’ reflective self- assessment and an asset in helping physicians improve their competence, performance, and patient care.”

From: Humayun Chaudhry, DO, FSMB President and CEO, RIMS and ACCME Leadership Forum for CME Accreditors, August 2011

New Form of Education and Support include: -Facilitating leadership training to help physicians and the medical profession provide effective leadership to shape the future of health care -Assisting physicians with education that advocates for patient responsibility for the patient’s own health care through promotion and prevention

From: Continuing Medical Education: Looking Back, Planning Ahead: Dennis K. Wentz editor, 2011

Value of CME/CE programs: -CME units expanding to provide quality and performance improvement activities -Continuing professional development for an interprofessional audience that includes health care teams -Faculty development to improve teaching and clinical skills and to increase understanding of regulatory changes -Engaging with community partners

From: CME and its Evolution in the Academic Medical Center: The 2011 AAMC/SACME Harrison Survey