Continuing Medical Education Course

Q: We're a training company, and we teach Continuing Education courses that are applicable to folks in the medical professions (Physicians, nurses, paramedics, dentists, allied health professions, etc.). Things like CPR, First Aid, Automated External Defibrillation, Bloodborne pathogens, Stress management, etc. Obviously, if someone can get CE credit for a course that will make them more likely to take it. But I have found this professional course level accreditation even more of a mess than University level accreditation! It may be, and I'm hoping not, that every individual organization that regulates each profession has their own standards, and I'll need to get individual approval. What I'm hoping is that there is a standard body that approves these things, or even a few of them, that I can get approval from, then the individual professional societies will accept that. Revolutionary, huh! Anyone with any ideas?

A:Have you looked at the American Council on Education (ACE)? http://www.acenet.edu/calec/corporate/corps-home.html I do healthcare risk management consulting for a living, and one of my employees does all the scutwork for CME accreditation. You will find that many professional/licensing organizations have their own criteria for CME accreditation. However, many organizations will grant credit hours if the seminar has been accredited for Category I credit by an accrediting organization recognized by the AM

A: Many state medical societies or large hospitals have the authority to accredit for Category I credit. Were I in your shoes, I would contact your state medical society and/or the nearest large hospital and ask for the CME or education department. They may well be able to help you get accredited. I would try the hospital first: if you put on the seminar under their sponsorship, they will usually accredit the seminar for you for free. First, try the obvious place: the AM

A: Keep in mind, however, that the courses you articulated are generally more relevant to ancillary health care professionals than to physicians. Therefore, check the requirements for approval of other professional associations (for each likely field). And not to mention another obvious idea: Check your competition! I am unaware of ancillary medical course credits, but can tell you that continuing education seminars in the fields of counseling and psychology will usually say, "Approved for ____ units from the APA, ____ credits from the ACA, ____ credits from the ACSW, ____ CLE's from the ABA," etc. Therefore, the answer to your basic question is yes: Each field has its own professional organization that dictates approval (or lack thereof). Finally, be sure that continuing education is a requirement in *each* state in which you market. Remember, not all states require CME's, CLE's, CEU's, etc. And be specific in getting your approvals. If a state requires CLE's, for example, they are not likely to accept generic CEU's.

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