Office of Continuing Education at CFMC Newsletter


March 2010 CFMC OCE Newsletter
Professional Credit CFMC is a national accredited provider with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, Colorado Nursing Association, and American Psychological Association to provide credit. We also partner with other organizations on a regular basis to bring you professional credits for NAHQ, Social Worker, and Pharmacy to name a few. For more information, please call Lorraine Pickrell at 800-950-8250 ext 3372 or visit us on the web at www.yourCEsource.org. Engagement: Criteria for Accreditation with Commendation - Part 2 of a series on the ACCME updated criteria, C16-C22 Using Non-Education Strategies to Enhance Change In recent years, the ACCME has updated their essential elements for education by adding seven (7) new criteria. As your ACCME provider, CFMC is required to implement these changes in all educational programs that we joint sponsor to award credit. Our goal is to educate our joint sponsors so that they can develop their programs in a way that each activity will meet the mandated criteria for CME. In this article, we focus on the second of these seven criteria. Criteria 17: The provider utilizes non-education strategies to enhance change as an adjunct to its activities/educational interventions (eg, reminders, patient feedback). In order to enhance learner change, especially toward the improvement of professional practice, it is important to incorporate complementary educational efforts into activities. Using non-education strategies, “tactics that go beyond the educational activity or intervention,”¹ enables providers to facilitate change through a broader range of tools than the typical lecture-handout format. Integrating non-education strategies into each activity should be considered from the beginning of the planning process. To be successful, they need to be connected to your activity’s goals and desired results. Documenting your non-education strategies—even ones already in place—will aid in planning the overall activity and can assist in evaluating and measuring outcomes. Including them in early planning can also help obtain any resources or financial support needed for your strategies. Collaboration and innovation are key in maximizing the effect of your non-education strategies in improving practice performance. Although traditional strategies can be chosen—such as creating related handouts or brochures for patients, policyholders, or physicians and staff—more modern or creative strategies from the provider are often more effective and better reinforce learning and outreach. Consider creating flipcharts, assessment tools (e.g., pain scale), or templates (e.g., progress notes) that the learners can bring back to their practice. Topical charts, “how to” examples, or questionnaires can similarly be created with patient education, screening, or feedback in mind. After an activity, remind learners via the internet to change practice performance and to use what they were taught. Online reminders can also be used toward upcoming activities announcements, enabling both sequenced learning and repeat learner participation. Develop an online resource for related information, Web-based forms or tools, or customization of learners’ activity experiences. Using non-education strategies as an adjunct to learning can enhance beneficial change for learners, their practice, and their patients. Incorporating these strategies into your activity will help ensure its success in the minds and practice of your learners. In each activity you plan, ask from the onset: Which non-education strategies are we using? —D.A. Resources: ”Engagement: Criteria for Accreditation with Commendation (C16 – C22)”. ACCME Accreditation Findings Based on the 2006 Accreditation Criteria. Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. pp. 10-11. ”Leading Transformational Change in CME: Criterion 17 Best Practices,” Brenda Johnson, MEd, CCMEP, et al. Almanac. Alliance for CME. Volume 31, No. 12. December 2009. pp. 3-6. Take your education national with CFMC’s e-learning solutions CFMC’s Office of Continuing Education supports its customers in taking their education national through the use of CFMC’s new product: online eLearning services. By combining our experience in continuing education content with superb technological resources, CFMC’s Office of Continuing Education now develops and executes high-quality online healthcare educational courses. In today’s market, online education is a major asset to any healthcare organization’s continuing education program. National Audience Affordable Convenient Learning Resource—Available to Learners 24/7 Accredited Programs Developed applying Adult Learning Principles Electronic Evaluations & Outcomes Measurement Tools Immediate Credit Certificate Delivery In-house Technical Assistance CME Consulting Services Live & Online Courses Visit yourCEsource.org for more information about our continuing education services to award credit to physicians, nurses, psychologists, and others. You may also call Lorraine Pickrell at 1-800-950-8250, ext. 3372. CFMC Upcoming Educational Activities Visit yourCEsource.org for a complete list of upcoming educational activities.