CCMEP A Certification Program for CME Professionals

1. CCMEPA Certification Program for CME Professionals Serving the Public - Advancing the Profession

2. Why certification? • Quality CME is vital to quality patient care, as recognized by many groups: • States – credits for re-licensure [MOL] • Specialty societies and Boards [MOC] • Hospitals [credentialing committees] • Institute of Medicine [5 core competencies] • JCAHO [national patient safety goals]

3. Value Proposition: The Public Certification will benefit the public by: • Providing standards for a self-regulated enterprise that impacts health care • Creating an objective, independent program that qualifies persons who develop CME for physicians • Offering a measure of assurance that CME activities honor FDA and HHS-OIG guidelines • Encouraging professionalism among persons who migrate into the CME community

4. Value Proposition: The Workers Certification will benefit persons who develop, administer, market, fund CME activities by: • Positioning CME as a career path • Acknowledging excellence • Motivating new learning, self-assessment • Serving as a rationale for promotion • Providing evidence of competence and portability of skills when job hunting

5. Value Proposition: Employers Certification will benefit accredited providers by: • Giving objective evidence of continuous quality improvement within the organization • Providing rationale for promoting staff • Encouraging professional development • Sharpening skill sets • Raising the quality of CME programming • Aiding in screening job candidates

6. Value Proposition: Grantors Certification will benefit commercial supporters by: • Demonstrating intent to “do the right thing” • Reducing risk of non-compliance • Responding to requirements of HHS-OIG Compliance Program • Fulfilling Corporate Integrity Agreements

7. Why now? • The integrity of the CME Enterprise is being called into question • Who is funding CME and what is their agenda? • What is the prevalence of bias? • Who should be producing CME activities?

8. In the Beginning … Feb 2005 • Reviewed models of certification • Conducted a SWOT analysis • Powerful S&O; manageable W&T • Drafted the vision, mission and goals • Reviewed a 3-year plan • Decided to move forward • Two-day retreat; 11 attendees

9. Key Recommendations • Incorporate as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization • Develop core criteria for competencies • Contract with test developers to design and validate the exam • Be self-sufficient >3 years

10. The Goal of Certification To provide a method of measuring competence whereby employers, grantors, and the public can be assured that the person planning, implementing, and evaluating a CME activity has a minimum level of relevant education, experience, and knowledge.

11. Benefits of Being Certified • Per NOCA • Enhance employment opportunities • Assist employers in making more informed hiring decisions • Protect the general public from incompetent and unfit practitioners • Establish a professional standard for individuals in a particular field

12. The Certification Model

13. Scope of the Exam: Content Outline Domains • Adult learning principles 15% • Educational interventions 30% • Relationships with stakeholders 10% • Leadership/administration 25% and management • CME environment 20%

14. The Certification Cycle

15. How to Register for the Exam FIRST: Read the CANDIDATES HANDBOOK • Fill out Eligibility Criteria Worksheet. • Submit Application Form online. • Register online for a date you choose, at a testing center near you. • Submit credit card payment. • Receive Letter of Admission via email.

16. Details, details - • Four “windows” each year • from the 13th to the 30th of March, June, September • entire month of December • Deadlines for registering • The last day of the preceding month • 2008 Exams - Earlybird Fee • $350 + $50 Nonrefundable Processing Fee • 2009 • $400 + $50 Nonrefundable Processing Fee

17. www.NC-CME.org