UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN MEDICAL SCHOOL

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CME Credit Information for Self-Study Activities

Offering an enduring material as a self-study for CME credit involves requirements, planning, and ongoing operational issues beyond those for live CME activities. Individuals considering developing enduring materials for CME credit should read through the information on this site (especially the requirements summary and the application form), then contact OCPD to discuss specific plans for developing an enduring material CME activity.

Requirements for Enduring Materials Used as Self-Study CME Activities. This 2 page summary provides an overview of requirements and operational issues.

OCPD maintains an infrastructure for on-line knowledge tests and scoring, activity evaluation, registration certificates, and participation records. For a separate fee, this on-line infrastructure can be used with educational content delivered in any enduring format. Charges depend on the extent of work involved. For further information, see the contact listing at the bottom of this page.

General Information

Holding a CME activity for which credit is designated involves four stages:

1. Planning
2. Application for credit designation
3. Reporting on the activity (until credit availability ends)

Information relevant to each of these steps is presented below with links to download applicable materials.

Fees

• For activities including non-UMHS personnel (with or without UM Personnel, the fee is $750 for designating credit for the activity plus an additional charge (based on the work involved) for recording and maintaining a record of credit each individual who receives credit
• For activities including only UMHS personnel, no separate fee is charged. The UM Faculty Group Practice annually funds this cost.

1. Planning

Planning a self-study CME activity based on an enduring material involves several interrelated considerations:

Basic educational content

Educational Planning for A CME Activity: Linking Problems and Results. This one-page document illustrates planning terminology from ACCME that is used when completing the application for CME credit.

Planning CME Presentations that Facilitate the Translation of New Knowledge into Practice. This one-page document illustrates how to plan not only for learning, but also for that knowledge to be implemented. A limitation of self-studies is the inability for learners to interact directly with presenters/authors.

Method for learner assessment (e.g., case-based knowledge test)

Developing Test Questions and Responses for Self-Study CME Activities. This one-page overview addresses developing a case-based knowledge test and accompanying answers.

Addressing potential commercial influence

Faculty Planner Disclosure Form and Presenter/Author Disclosure Form. A completed form for each person in control of content must accompany the application. For individuals with relevant commercial relationships, the "Resolution" section at the form's bottom must be completed.

Printed Disclosure Summary – Example. A printed summary of disclosures for planners and presenters is provided to the audience. This example illustrates one format that may be used. For the CME file the Faculty Planner submits a copy of the disclosure summary and documentation that it was provided.

Commercial support. If an activity receives in-kind support from a commercial company, two steps are involved, each of which is to be documented in the CME file:

• A written agreement must document that the support is not affecting the educational content.
• The receipt of support must be acknowledged to the audience before the substantive educational program begins.

Written Agreement for Commercial Support – Example. This or a similar form is to be completed for each instance of commercial support. The Faculty Planner submits a copy of the agreement for the CME file.

Printed Acknowledgement of Commercial Support – Example. Support may be acknowledged in various formats, including this example. For the CME file the Faculty Planner submits a copy of the acknowledgement and documentation that it was provided.

Methods of communicating and maintaining information

In addition to the "message," planning the self-study CME activity involves determining the methods to be used to convey information between the individuals offering the CME activity and those participating in it. Communications to be considered include how:

• Interested learners access the enduring material
• Learner assessment occurs
• Learner's evaluation of the CME activity occurs
• Certificates of participation are delivered and records of participation are maintained

Procedures for periodic reporting to OCPD. Procedures need to be planned for reporting:

• Individual participation, noting physicians and non-physicians (annually or more frequently)
• Summary evaluation information (over the period for which credit is designated or more frequently)

2. Application for credit designation

Application for Category 1 CME Credit for a Self-Study Enduring Material. This form must be completed and submitted. It contains detailed instructions. The last page of the application has a checklist of additional items that are or may be required. Information that is required to accompany the application includes:

Drafts of promotional materials (e.g., invitation letters, brochures, flyers). Drafts of promotional materials must be approved before they can be distributed to the potential audience. They must include information about the intended ("target") audience, purpose and expected results (i.e. objectives), a description of the content , the specified accreditation and credit designation statements, and other information describing the self-study activity, as appropriate. Examples of promotional materials include:

• Invitation Letter – Example
• Brochure – Example

If the activity is jointly sponsored with a group outside UMHS:

• Supplemental Documentation Form for Joint Sponsorship with Non-Medical School Groups. This form must accompany the application for jointly sponsored activities.
• Budget for Jointly Sponsored Activities – Example. This illustrates the type of financial information to be attached.

3. Reporting on the activity (until credit availability ends)

Records of individual participation and summaries of activity evaluations are to be submitted to OCPD.

Address questions and submit applications and other materials to:

Julie Wilson, CME Credit Coordinator
Office of Continuous Professional Development
G1200 Towsley Center
1500 E. Medical Center Drive, SPC 5201
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5201
Phone: 734-647-8784
Fax: 734-936-1641
Email: juliwils@umich.edu