October 2000 • Post-Assembly Edition • Dallas
Clinical CME evaluation moves toward evidence-based approach
BY CINDY McCANSE
The Congress of Delegates voted last month to change the way the AAFP does business -- CME business.
Delegates called for phasing in new criteria for evaluating and categorizing the clinical content of CME. The criteria will be phased in over the next year and re-evaluated in January 2002.
The revised system encourages CME providers to incorporate evidence-based medicine into their clinical offerings in an effort to cull activities promoting unproven therapies. The result: Some courses previously eligible for Prescribed or Elective credit hours may no longer qualify; others that were previously ineligible for credit may now receive it.
Here's how the new system will work:
CME providers will indicate on the AAFP CME credit application form how many hours they are requesting in the following categories of clinical credit:
- eligible for Prescribed or Elective credit hours -- evidence-based medicine or customary and generally accepted medical practice. The program must have input from an AAFP active or life member to be eligible for Prescribed hours in this category.
- eligible for Elective credit hours -- neither evidence-based nor customary and generally accepted medical practice, but not dangerous. Hours in this category are ineligible for Prescribed credit, even with the input of an AAFP active or life member.
"The purpose of phasing in this evidence-based medicine approach to the accreditation system is to help our members and CME providers voluntarily move toward including more of the available clinical evidence in the educational process," said Norman Kahn Jr., M.D., AAFP vice president for education and science.
After consideration of input from chapters, selected CME providers and national colleague organizations, the AAFP will launch the program nationally in April 2001.
FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department.
Copyright © 2000 by American Academy of Family Physicians.
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