CME ...

Consists of educational activities which serve to maintain, develop or increase the knowledge, skills and professional performance and relationships that physicians use to provide services for patients, the public or the profession. The content of CME is the body of knowledge and skills generally recognized and accepted by the profession as within the basic medical sciences, the discipline of clinical medicine and the provision of health care to the public ( AMA House of Delegates policy #300.988).

Accredited CME providers should collaborate with their faculty, whenever possible, to ensure the content of the educational activities they designate for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit is accurate, current and objectively presented. Educational needs should guide activities and the development of their purpose and/or learning objectives. These needs may be driven and defined by individual physicians, groups of physicians and/or outside organizations.

Providers may certify non-clinical subjects (e.g., office management or physician-patient communication) for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit, so long as these are appropriate to a physician audience and benefit patient care or public health.

CME activities may describe or explain complementary and alternative health care practices. As with any quality CME activity, these need to include discussion of the existing level of scientific evidence that supports the practices. However, education that advocates specific alternative therapies or teaches how to perform associated procedures, without scientific evidence or general acceptance among the profession that supports their efficacy and safety, cannot be designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.

Designating AMA PRA Category 1 Credit

To be designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit, educational activities must be planned by an accredited provider. *

*American Medical Association, The Physician’s Recognition Award and credit system (BP21:05-0965:15M:1/06), P. 2-4.