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NAMEC and CME Industry Related News.


  • 26 Apr 2017 1:19 PM | NAMEC Staff (Administrator)


    The American Medical Association (AMA) and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME®) are today opening a call for comment on their proposal to simplify and align their expectations for accredited continuing medical education (CME) activities that offer the AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Comments will be accepted through May 25, 2017, at 5 pm CDT.

    Reflective of the AMA and ACCME’s shared values, the proposal for alignment is designed to encourage innovation and flexibility in accredited CME while continuing to ensure that activities meet educational standards and are independent of commercial influence. The proposal is aimed at allowing accredited CME providers to introduce and blend new instructional practices and learning formats that are appropriate to their learners and setting, provided they abide by the seven core requirements described in the proposal. 

    The core requirements outlined in the proposal are aligned with ACCME requirements—and do not represent any new rules for accredited providers. However, the AMA has simplified and reduced its learning format requirements to provide more flexibility for CME providers. To further encourage innovation in educational design and delivery, CME providers may design and deliver an activity that uses blended or new approaches to driving meaningful learning and change. For these activities, the provider can designate credits on an hour-per-credit basis using their best reasonable estimate of the time required to complete the activity. Additional details about the “Proposed Simplification of Requirements for Accredited CME Activities Certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™” can be found below this news release. 

    “We celebrate this collaborative effort with our AMA colleagues and the opportunity to advance the evolution of CME. This proposal reflects the values of our CME providers and supports their aspirations to engage in education that makes a meaningful difference in clinician practice and patient care. We want to do everything we can to encourage innovation and experimentation in CME, so that educators are free to respond nimbly to their learners’ changing needs while staying true to core principles for educational excellence and independence. We thank accredited CME providers for their participation in this process and look forward to their feedback on our proposal and to our continued work together to drive quality in postgraduate medical education and improve care for the patients and communities we all serve,” said Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, President and CEO, ACCME.

    “Based on the feedback we received from the CME community during listening sessions, we recognize the need to better align the AMA and ACCME’s requirements for CME accreditation and reaccreditation,” said Susan Skochelak, M.D., AMA Group Vice President for Medical Education. “We believe that our proposal will support the evolution of CME to better meet the needs of educators, physicians, and the patients they serve. We want to hear from the CME community to make sure the proposal addresses their feedback. We encourage CME providers to submit their comments to the proposal so we can continue to evolve to a more streamlined system that meets their needs.”

    In addition to collaborating on the proposal, the AMA and ACCME produced a shared glossary of terms and definitions to help clarify terminology for accredited CME providers and learners. Developed both as part of their alignment efforts and in response to requests from CME providers, the AMA is also seeking feedback on the glossary during the comment period.

    Following the call for comment period, the AMA and ACCME will analyze the feedback and determine whether to make modifications to the proposal and glossary. Once finalized, the resulting new process will be integrated into the existing accreditation and reaccreditation processes.

    The alignment proposal was developed by the Bridge Committee, which was formed by the AMA and ACCME to support their collaborative realignment efforts. The committee—made up of staff and volunteers from both organizations—serves in an advisory capacity on issues related to alignment and the evolution of the two complementary systems of credit and accreditation.

    PROPOSED SIMPLIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCREDITED CME ACTIVITIES CERTIFIED FOR AMA PRA CATEGORY 1 CREDITTM

    Based on feedback from the community and a comprehensive review of the AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM requirements, the American Medical Association (AMA) Council on Medical Education and Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME®) are proposing an alignment of their expectations for accredited CME activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Reflective of the AMA and ACCME’s shared values, the proposal for alignment is designed to encourage innovation and flexibility, while ensuring that activities are independent and educationally appropriate. Accredited CME providers can introduce and blend new instructional practices and formats appropriate to their learners and setting, as long as they abide by the core requirements. CME providers may designate an activity format as “other” if it does not fall into one of the established format categories, without asking permission from the AMA. For these activities, providers can designate credits on an hour-per-credit basis, using their best reasonable estimate of the time required to complete the activity. 

    This proposal contains the following two elements:

    A. Core requirements for activities
    B. A limited number of format-specific requirements

    A. Core Requirements for Activities

    Please note: The core requirements are aligned with ACCME requirements and do not represent any new rules for accredited providers.

    1. The CME activity must conform to the AMA/ACCME definition of CME.
    2. The CME activity must address an educational need (knowledge, competence or performance) that underlies the professional practice gaps of that activity’s learners.
    3. The CME activity must present content appropriate in depth and scope for the intended physician learners.
    4. When appropriate to the activity and the learners, the accredited provider should communicate the identified educational purpose and/or objectives for the activity, and provide clear instructions on how to successfully complete the activity.
    5. The CME activity must utilize one or more learning methodologies appropriate to the activity’s educational purpose and/or objectives.
    6. The CME activity must provide an assessment of the learner that measures achievement of the educational purpose and/or objective of the activity.
    7. The CME activity must be planned and implemented in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support: Standards to Ensure Independence in CME Activities.

    B. If the learning modality is an enduring material, journal-based CME, or performance improvement CME, the accredited provider must ensure the following format-specific requirements are met: 

    1. Enduring materials will provide access to appropriate bibliographic sources to allow for further study.
    2. Journal-based CME will include one or more peer-reviewed articles.
    3. Performance improvement CME will:
    • have an oversight mechanism that assures content integrity of the selected performance measures. If appropriate, these measures should be evidence-based and well-designed.
    • provide clear instruction to the physician that defines the educational process of the activity (documentation, timeline).
    • provide adequate background information so that physicians can identify and understand the performance measures that will guide their activity and the evidence behind those measures (if applicable).
    • validate the depth of physician participation by a review of submitted PI CME activity documentation.
    • consist of the following three stages:
    • Stage A: learning from current practice performance assessment. Assess current practice using the identified performance measures, either through chart reviews or some other appropriate mechanism.
    • Stage B: learning from the application of PI to patient care.  Implement the intervention(s) based on the results of the analysis, using suitable tracking tools.  Participating physicians should receive guidance on appropriate parameters for applying the intervention(s).
    • Stage C: learning from the evaluation of the PI CME effort.  Reassess and reflect on performance in practice measured after the implementation of the intervention(s), by comparing to the original assessment and using the same performance measures. Summarize any practice, process and/or outcome changes that resulted from conducting the PI CME activity.

    More Information

    • “Proposed Simplification of Requirements for Accredited CME Activities Certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is appended to this news release.
    • Respond to the call for comment here.
    • Download the shared glossary.
    • CME providers: please contact info@accme.org for more information. 
  • 18 Apr 2017 9:43 AM | NAMEC Staff (Administrator)

    The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) plans to award $20.5 million as part of the Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Awards program. These awards support projects that encourage active integration of patients, caregivers, clinicians, and other healthcare stakeholders as integral members of the patient-centered outcomes research/clinical effectiveness research (PCOR/CER) enterprise.

    View additional details

  • 22 Mar 2017 1:06 PM | NAMEC Staff (Administrator)
    The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME®) is pleased to present a new logo, tagline, and color palette that emphasize the lifelong journey of learning and celebrate the forward trajectory of the continuing medical education (CME) community. New marks are also available for CME providers to communicate their accreditation status. A video about these new endeavors is found below or you can view the ACCME's press release.



  • 10 Mar 2017 2:12 PM | NAMEC Staff (Administrator)

    NAMEC held it's annual Business Meeting during the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions meeting in San Francisco on January 28th.  The meeting was well attended. The organization is making plans for 2017 to attract additional medical education companies to join and get involved. 

    The organization recognized the 2016 Award Winners.  The 2016 NAMEC Best Practice in Educational Design and Evaluation Award was presented to CME Outfitters for  "Integrating the Patient Voice into Medical Education to Drive Learning and Behavior Change". 

    The 2016 NAMEC Best Practice in Learner Outcomes Award was presented to Paradigm Medical Communications for "Trust Your Gut: Improving the Physician Assistant’s Acumen in Identifying and Managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation"

    Pictures from the event are found below. Thanks to all who attended!



  • 10 Mar 2017 1:41 PM | NAMEC Staff (Administrator)

    ACCME requirements are designed to ensure that accredited continuing medical education (CME) provides a safe place for learning—independent of commercial interests and commercial influence. They have released a tutorial and flowchart for navigating relevant financial relationships and resolving conflicts of interests in CME activities.

    View additional details here.

  • 26 Jan 2017 8:50 AM | NAMEC Staff (Administrator)

    View Genentech document with call for grant notifications released January 23, 2017 - click here

    Summary: Through this specific Call for Grant Notification, Genentech is seeking to support grants by evolving knowledge-based medical education into “healthcare Improvement” initiatives with the purpose of accelerating the awareness and application of evidence-based medicine into relevant, measurable, clinical outcomes. These grants are to remain independent, accurate, fair-balanced in nature, and must meet the highest ethical U.S. Standards of Commercial Support; the grants are not required to be certified for credit if there are valid reasons for that decision.

  • 16 Jan 2017 1:23 PM | NAMEC Staff (Administrator)

    You are invited to submit a grant proposal to address the educational need outlined in the attached document.

    Please review and return your completed proposal via the sanofi U.S. Grant Website at https://sgrants.envisionpharma.com/vt_sgrants/ by 5p.m. EST on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.

    If a submission is not completed by this date, your proposal will not be accepted.

    Therapeutic Area:     Oncology

    Area of Interest:        Prostate Cancer

    “Please note that an applicant may be ineligible to receive a grant in response to this RFP if the applicant has performed any services under contract with

    sanofi U.S. during the last 12 months in connection with:

    • A consultant meeting; or
    • An advisory board meeting

    in the same therapeutic area as this request for proposal (“RFP”).

    If the applicant has performed such services, please forward a copy of the contract immediately, prior to responding to the RFP, so that we can determine your

    eligibility.  If not, please acknowledge this in your application writing.”

    Please note that you must select the type of activity that you are proposing, i.e., Live, Enduring or Live and Enduring and answer the question, “Are you responding to an RFP”.

    Submission instructions are available on the website. If you have a content question, please contact Malika Wicks at Malika.Wicks@sanofi.com.


  • 04 Nov 2016 10:27 AM | NAMEC Staff (Administrator)

    Call for Nominations for the NAMEC Board of Directors

    Please note: The deadline for submission extended to November 2, 2016

    This is a call for nominations to fill 3 seats on the NAMEC Board of Directors including:

    • 1 Secretary position (3 year term)
    • 2 Director positions (3 year term)

    Duties of Secretary

    • The Secretary will be responsible for maintaining records of NAMEC business and NAMEC Board of Director meetings
    • The Secretary will be responsible for overseeing the NAMEC Board of Directors and Officers election process
    • The Secretary will be responsible for overseeing the Annual NAMEC Best Practice Awards process
    • The Secretary must be willing to, at minimum, attend 1 face-to face board meeting per year (usually held during the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions Annual Conference), participate on Board conference calls (approximately monthly) and participate with standing and ad hoc committees as requested by the President
    • Nominees for Secretary must be drawn from the current NAMEC Board of Directors and Officers.

    Duties of Directors

    • Candidates must be willing to, at minimum, attend 1 face-to face board meeting per year (usually held during the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions Annual Conference), participate on Board conference calls (approximately monthly) and participate with standing and ad hoc committees as requested by the President
    • Candidates must be willing to Chair standing and ad hoc committees as requested by the President
    • Candidates should also be willing to serve as an officer of the organization (officers are elected by the membership from the members of the Board)

    Qualifications of Nominees

    • Those nominated should be employed by a NAMEC member organization in good standing and have at least 3 years experience in the CME industry
    • All nominees should possess leadership ability, a high degree of personal and professional integrity, and the ability to recruit members to the organization and volunteers to support our activities
    • In addition, the organization encourages individuals with one or more of the following characteristics, which have been identified as critical skills/qualifications for Board members:
      •   Familiarity with changes in healthcare and medical education, particularly the role of CME in improving the quality and safety of patient care
      •   CME regulatory expertise
      •   Experience related to MEC public relations and/or advocacy
      •   Strong skills in business, marketing, and/or communications
      •   Knowledge of adult education principles

    Terms of Office

    •   The Secretary is selected by vote of the membership to serve a 3-year term
    •   Each director is selected by vote of the membership and serves a 3-year term

    Nomination and Election Process

    • To be eligible for nomination, candidates must be members of organizations that meet the definition of “full voting”
    • Any representative of a “full voting” organization may make a nomination, including a self-nomination
    • Candidates must submit the following information to the NAMEC Business Office, info@NAMEC-assn.org by November 14, 2016:
      •   A biographical sketch of no more than 350 words
      •   A “statement of philosophy” pertinent to the goals and mission of the organization of no more than 350 words
      •   A picture to include on the ballot
    • The Nomination and Elections Committee will review the submissions, prepare the slate of candidates, and email a ballot to the “primary” member of each “full voting” organization.  All ballots (1 from each member organization) must be cast on or before December 2, 2016
    • The results of the election will be announced at the Annual NAMEC Meeting, to be held in January, 2017 during the ACEHP Annual Meeting

    You should expect an email acknowledging receipt of your submission from the NAMEC business office. If you do not get an acknowledgement, please call 205-824-7612 to ensure your submission is received.

    NAMEC Board of Directors’ and Officers’ Code of Ethics

    NAMEC board members have an obligation to do more than just meet legal standards. NAMEC board members are expected to meet standards of conduct as well. All board members must agree to uphold the NAMEC Board of Directors Code of Ethics statement upon election to the Board.

    NAMEC Board of Directors’ and Officers’ Code of Ethics statement

    As a member of the NAMEC Board of Directors I will:

    • Ensure that my fiduciary duty to NAMEC is the foundation for all of my actions as a Board member
    • Represent the interests of all members served by NAMEC
    • Refrain from using my service on the NAMEC Board primarily for my own personal advantage
    • Keep confidential any information so designated by the Board of Directors
    • Approach all Board issues with an open mind, listen respectfully to the opinions of my Board colleagues, and make decisions based on the best interests of NAMEC and its members
    • Act with the authority of NAMEC only when such authority is delegated to me by the Board or the bylaws
    • Sign or e-mail an agreement attesting to this policy

    All interested candidates should forward their biographical sketch, statement of philosophy, and photograph to the NAMEC Business Office by November 14, 2016.

    Email: info@NAMEC-assn.org

    Website: http://www.NAMEC-assn.org

    If you have questions regarding the nominations process or the duties of Officers and Directors, please contact Chris Bolwell at C.Bolwell@imedex.com or Kurt Boyce at kboyce@appliedcme.com


  • 03 Nov 2016 12:52 PM | NAMEC Staff (Administrator)

    Continuing Medical Education organizations can now explore participation in the ABMS Multi-Specialty Portfolio Program™ as part of a new, one-year pilot. The pilot allows these organizations to offer their physicians one-year access to Portfolio Program benefits without committing to becoming full participating sponsors.

    Click here for additional information

  • 11 Oct 2016 7:59 AM | NAMEC Staff (Administrator)
     

    October 11, 2016

    Dear NAMEC Colleagues:

    The NAMEC Awards Committee will begin accepting nominations for the 11th Annual NAMEC Best Practice Awards on Monday, October 17th. NAMEC encourages all member organizations to submit a nomination in each of the competitive categories. Criteria and nomination processes are included in this email.

    This year NAMEC will recognize outstanding achievement in the following categories:

    • Best Practice in Educational Design
    • Best Practice in Collaboration Among CME Stakeholders
    • Best Practice in Learner Outcomes
    • Best Practice in Quality Improvement CME
    • Best Practice in Professional Development
    • Brian P. Russell Exemplary CME Professional Award

    CME is an industry rooted in change, a profession that calls upon our abilities to recognize and address new challenges. It requires us to utilize our intellect, our diligence, and our creativity. We believe that each of these elements should be acknowledged.

    All nominations should be received no later than Monday, November 21, 2016. Please send your recommendations to NAMEC at kboyce@appliedcme.com.

    Recipients will have the opportunity to discuss their activities during the NAMEC Annual Meeting, to be held during the ACEHP Conference in ACEHP Conference in San Francisco, California January 26 – 29, 2017.

    If you have questions about the awards please, contact Chris Bolwell at c.bolwell@imedex.com  or Kurt Boyce at kboyce@appliedcme.com.

    Thank you for your continued support of NAMEC.

    Best Regards,

    NAMEC Awards Committee 

    Awards Cover Sheet (for submission) 

    Awards Process document (detailing key information relative to the awards)



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