This audit process helps ensure that the eligibility requirements are upheld. While we do occasionally conduct complaint audits, our audits are generally random. During the audit process, we’ll identify possible areas of improvement and provide feedback on how to improve processes for future activities, so that the CME activities align with our requirements. These eligibility requirements are in place to help create unbiased education from ineligible companies, ensure that the content is evidence based, relevant to the scope of family medicine, and much more.
The AAFP will contact you by email if your activity is selected for an audit. Be sure to keep your files for a minimum of one year after your activity ends. Your activity and/or sessions can be audited up to one year from the end date of the final session. Learner participation documents will need to be kept longer.
The AAFP reserves the right to have a live monitor present at any activity approved for AAFP credit and/or perform a post-activity audit.
Random audits help to ensure compliance with AAFP Credit System rules, including the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.
The AAFP may perform a random audit on any activity that has been awarded AAFP credit, up to one year from the date of the activity approval. The AAFP will contact the CME provider by email if the AAFP accredited activity is selected for an audit.
Complaint audits are conducted when the AAFP is made aware of concerns about any CME activity awarded credit by the AAFP.
Complaint Audit Process
Live (i.e., on-site) audits may be random, or they may be prompted by one or more of the following circumstances:
1. Suspicion of industry influence
2. Pattern of issues with the CME provider’s applications for CME credit
3. Learner/faculty complaint
The AAFP may perform a live audit on any activity that has been awarded AAFP credit.
Live Audit Process
If an activity is selected for an audit, then the application owner of the activity will receive an email notification along with a request to acknowledge the audit. The email will include access to the audit documentation page. The application owner can also access the audit documentation page from their CME provider dashboard by clicking the “Under Audit” link within the status column of the activity.
Once the audit documentation has been submitted, then the AAFP Credit System has 60 days to review the documentation. If additional information is needed, AAFP staff will notify the application owner.
Activities with substantial or non-compliance findings are required to fulfill an action plan to resolve the areas of non-compliance to ensure compliance for future CME activities.
Failure to complete the audit action plan will result in an automatic suspension of a CME provider’s eligibility to apply for AAFP credit.
The following information must be provided within 30 days of the audit notification date:
AAFP Criteria
*Please note: The AAFP Credit System has the right to request additional information as deemed necessary when conducting an audit.
Eligibility Suspension
When an activity is found non-compliant in more than one area in an initial audit, the AAFP COCPD Executive Committee reserves the right to suspend a CME provider’s eligibility to apply for AAFP credit.
Failure to resolve areas of non-compliance identified in an audit will result in an automatic suspension of a CME provider’s eligibility to apply for AAFP credit.
Indication that a CME provider has not followed through on its commitment to resolve areas of non-compliance with reasonable effort will result in automatic suspension of a CME provider’s eligibility to apply for AAFP credit.
Compliance Criteria | Description | |
---|---|---|
Total Compliance | Provided all required documents and procedures meet AAFP criteria and/or ACCME Standards. | |
Substantial Compliance | Provided all the required documents. Minor modifications would bring procedures into total compliance with AAFP criteria and/or ACCME Standards. | |
Noncompliance | Documentation indicates several areas where improvement is needed or one or more major areas of noncompliance. |
Contact AAFP Credit System
cmecredit@aafp.org
(800) 274-2237
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