The ACCME's Mission is the identification, development, and promotion of standards for quality continuing medical education (CME) utilized by physicians in their maintenance of competence and incorporation of new knowledge to improve quality medical care for patients and their communities.

The ACCME fulfills its mission through a voluntary self-regulated system for accrediting CME providers and a peer-review process responsive to changes in medical education and the health care delivery system.

For companies looking to become Accredited Continuing Education providers for Physicians, it is important to know what is expected.

FIRST TIME APPLICANTS APPLYING FOR ACCREDITATION
Accreditation Process
Getting Started - What You Need to Know
For first-time, or "initial" applicants, the accreditation process takes twelve to eighteen months. 87% of initial applicants are successful in achieving ACCME accreditation. If your organization is considering applying for ACCME initial accreditation, there are several factors you should consider in determining whether ACCME accreditation is right for you:

Purpose of ACCME Accreditation:
ACCME accreditation is a mark of quality continuing medical education ("CME") activities that are planned, implemented and evaluated by ACCME accredited providers in accordance with ACCME's Essential Areas and Elements and Accreditation Policies ("Accreditation Requirements"). ACCME accreditation assures the medical community and the public that such activities provide physicians with information that can assist them in maintaining or improving their practice of medicine. These activities are free of commercial bias and based on valid content.

Purpose of ACCME:
ACCME is the organization that sets educational standards for CME activities, and monitors its accredited providers' adherence to those standards. ACCME accredits organizations, and does not accredit individual activities. Un-accredited organizations that would like to partner with an ACCME accredited provider in the provision of quality CME can enter into joint sponsorship with an accredited organization.

It is important to note that ACCME does not reward the continuing educational accomplishments of individual physicians. Rather, those accomplishments are rewarded by other organizations which, for example, require physicians to complete a certain amount and/or type of CME for membership or re-licensure. As such, CME providers are not ACCME accredited for the purpose of granting credit. The requirements for granting credit are maintained by the other organizations themselves. Since different credentialing bodies have varying requirements, CME providers should be aware of the requirements of the particular credentialing body for which credit is being granted.

Expectations of ACCME:
ACCME has several expectations of those who apply for ACCME accreditation:

* Eligible organizations that decide to apply for ACCME accreditation should be prepared to both describe and furnish evidence that demonstrates compliance with the Accreditation Requirements. For this reason, organizations considering applying for ACCME accreditation must plan, implement and evaluate at least two CME activities prior to beginning the accreditation process.
* ACCME expects its accredited providers to monitor their overall CME program for compliance with the Accreditation Requirements and to fulfill annual reporting requirements. For a description of the ongoing responsibilities of ACCME accredited providers, see "Maintaining Accreditation - Ongoing Responsibilities of Accredited Providers"
* Payment of certain fees is required to obtain and maintain ACCME accreditation. For a schedule of current ACCME fees, click here: Accreditation Fee Schedule
* ACCME conducts its affairs in English, and requires that all information be submitted in English.

ACCME's Policy Regarding Confidentiality of Information:
Through the accreditation process, the ACCME collects data related to a provider's compliance withAccreditation Requirements. The ACCME will maintain the following as confidential, except as required for ACCME accreditation or recognition purposes, or as may be required by legal process, or as otherwise authorized by the CME provider to which it relates,

* Information acquired by the ACCME from a provider during the accreditation process for that CME provider except for accumulated data that does not specifically identify individual CME providers;
* Correspondence and memoranda within the ACCME relating to the accreditation process for a CME provider;
* Correspondence between ACCME and a CME provider relating to the accreditation process for the CME provider/accreditation; and
* ACCME proceedings relating to a CME provider.

In order to maintain confidential information as such, ACCME and ACCME volunteers are required not to make copies of, disclose, discuss, describe, distribute, or disseminate in any manner whatsoever, including oral, written, or electronic form, any confidential information that they receive or generate, or any part of it, except directly for ACCME accreditation purposes. ACCME and ACCME volunteers are also required not to use such confidential information for personal or professional benefit, or for any other reason, except directly for ACCME accreditation or recognition purposes.

Eligibility to Apply for ACCME Accreditation:
ACCME has specific criteria for determining an organization's eligibility to receive ACCME accreditation. See "Determining Your Eligibility for ACCME Accreditation" for more information.

Relevant Downloads:
The System of Accreditation (PDF)
Essential Areas and Elements, including the Standards for Commercial Support (PDF)
ACCME Accreditation Policies - All (PDF)
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations (PDF)
Accreditation Fee Schedule (PDF)

Determining Your Eligibility for ACCME Accreditation
Only certain organizations are eligible to receive ACCME accreditation. The following criteria must be met before an organization will be considered for ACCME accreditation:

The organization must,

* Be located in the United States and its Territories.
* Be developing and/or presenting a program of CME for physicians on a regular and recurring basis.
* Not be a commercial interest.
* Not be developing and/or presenting a program of CME that is, in the judgment of the ACCME, devoted to advocacy on unscientific modalities of diagnosis or therapy.
* Present activities that have "valid" content. Specifically, the organization must be presenting activities that promote recommendations, treatment or manners of practicing medicine that are within the definition of CME. Providers are not eligible for accreditation if they present activities that promote treatments that are known to have risks or dangers that outweigh the benefits or are known to be ineffective in the treatment of patients.

The ACCME accredits the following institutions, if they choose to seek accreditation:

* State medical societies,
* Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME)-accredited schools of medicine,
* National physician membership organizations
* National medical specialty societies and
* Other organizations whose programs of CME serve physician learners, 30% or more of whom are from beyond the home or contiguous state(s) of the organization. Organizations whose programs of CME primarily serve physician learners, 70% or more of whom are from the home or contiguous state(s) of the organization, are usually accredited by an ACCME recognized state medical society. Note that a CME provider may not maintain both ACCME accreditation and accreditation by a state medical society at the same time. If a state medical society accredited provider alters its function and successfully achieves ACCME accreditation, that provider must notify the respective state medial society. A similar process follows for ACCME accredited providers that become accredited by a state medical society.

When there is a question regarding eligibility, ACCME reserves the right to make decisions on the issue, and has a formal process in place to do so.

Relevant Downloads:
The System of Accreditation (PDF)

The Pre-Application Process
The first step in becoming accredited is completion of a "Pre-application for ACCME Accreditation" ("Pre-application"). The purpose of the Pre-application is to provide you with an opportunity to explain your eligibility for ACCME accreditation, as well as to demonstrate that your organization has mechanisms in place to fulfill ACCME's Essential Areas and Elements and Accreditation Policies ("Accreditation Requirements") in the CME activities that you will produce.

Once your organization has completed and submitted to ACCME the Pre-application and $500 Pre-application fee, ACCME will notify your organization whether it is eligible to continue with the initial accreditation process. This notification is in writing, and is usually sent within four weeks of receipt of your Pre-application. ACCME staff review Pre-applications as quickly as possible, and will notify you immediately once a decision has been made regarding your eligibility to continue with the initial accreditation process.

Relevant Downloads
Pre-Application for ACCME Accreditation (Word)

The Initial Self Study Process
If your organization is deemed eligible to continue with the initial accreditation process, you will complete and submit an Initial Self Study Report for ACCME accreditation, including payment of the $5,000 Initial Accreditation Fee. Once all required information and payment has been received, the ACCME will schedule your survey. First-time applicants must fulfill two requirements with respect to their survey: they must have a survey at their administrative offices and have a CME activity reviewed. There is no prescribed order for the two requirements, but the first survey must take place prior to Provisional Accreditation, and both requirements must be completed prior to Accreditation.

The interview provides an opportunity for your organization to meet with two ACCME volunteer surveyors to discuss the objectives of your CME program, and your approach to compliance with ACCME Requirements. The surveyors will clarify any questions they may have about your application, and will also expect to discuss your organization's ongoing plans for improvement as they relate to your practice of CME. You can expect your surveyors to ask thoughtful questions and to listen carefully to what your organization has to say about its CME program. You must not expect nor ask your surveyors to provide advice or consultation about ways that you can improve your practice of CME.

Providers are responsible for reimbursing ACCME for the travel expenses their surveyors incur as a result of their participation in the interview. Although ACCME bills providers for the actual costs incurred, these expenses average approximately $2,000 per provider, and are above and beyond the $5,000 Initial Accreditation Fee.

Following the interview, the surveyors will document the results of their conversations with your organization and send the findings to ACCME. Once the findings are received, ACCME's decision making process begins.

Relevant Downloads
Accreditation Cycle Deadlines (PDF)
Sample Initial Self Study Materials (PDF)
Sample Initial Self Study tabs (PDF)
Initial Application Demographic Information form (Word)

Special Information for Providers Seeking or Holding ANCC and/or ACPE Accreditation
Over the last several years, an increased number of organizations have applied for accreditation from multiple health care accrediting organizations - in particular, the ACCME, Accreditation Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). These organizations now accept the same Self Study Report. This simplifies the accreditation process for continuing education providers seeking accreditation status from two or more of the accrediting bodies.

The ACCME, ACPE and ANCC maintain their own eligibility requirements, sets of requirements, accreditation decision-making processes and fees. For more information on seeking or maintaining accreditation from multiple accrediting bodies using the Self Study Report for Accreditation of Institutions and Organizations as Providers of Continuing Education for Health Care Professionals, please contact ACCME.

http://www.accme.org/index.cfm/fa/AccreditationProcess.detail/AccreditationProcess/.cfm/process_id/a7f55ee6-9148-42f6-8bdb-1fcc0000eda6.cfm