Bringing in the $$$

Tips on How Grant Writing Can Improve Your Business Revenue

Almost everyone has been feeling the budgetary squeeze within the continuing education community. Providers are facing stiff competition as they are forced to bid from an even smaller pool of grant funding. Here are some helpful tips that will give your grant proposal a strategic edge.

Sometimes less is more. You want to provide grantors with the appropriate information to help them decide if your program will have the ultimate goal of providing quality education that fulfills a gap in knowledge. Needs assessments are critical to the process and should be concise and comprise multiple sources (clinical guidelines, interviews with key opinion leaders, etc). However, do not overload grantors with too much information. Most likely, they are struggling with budgetary constraints of their own and may be short-staffed.

Outline measureable learning objectives. This really highlights the importance of a concise needs assessment. You must prove to the prospective grantor that the learning objectives identify a verifiable need for learning. This all ties into outcomes measurement. Highlighting Level 3 (physician learning) and Level 4 (improved practice performance) outcome measurement methodologies in grant proposals will increase the likelihood that they will be approved.

Consider larger initiatives. Studies have shown that it is unlikely that one single activity will sustain a change in physician learning. With this in mind, consider seeking funding for larger initiatives. However, these initiatives present their own challenges and require careful planning. It is vital that the activities are tied together, that they are based on a verifiable need, and that they work together toward an overall goal of improving patient care.

Collaboration, collaboration, collaboration. If you’ve attended any recent continuing education workshops or webinars, you’ve probably heard the new buzz word: “collaboration.” Collaboration has many benefits: it expands providers’ educational reach, competencies, and expertise. Many grantors feel that funding an activity with multiple stakeholders will prevent the perception that funding is going to a select group. Sharing a common commitment to providing quality CME activities will help make for a winning grant proposal.

The New PhRMA Code

What You Need to Know

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) recently updated their Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals. Government scrutiny and billions of dollars paid in lawsuits involving illegal marketing practices have led to these changes. The updated Code—that will go into effect January 2009—has made a tough regulatory environment even tougher. As a result, many companies are scrambling to implement compliance plans. Here is a brief overview of some of the changes.

Meals
Under the code, companies are not permitted to directly pay for meals at CME events. However, they may give funding to a CME provider, who may, in turn use the funding for meals for all participants. In addition, companies may fund meals at events—such as association meetings—where CME is only part of the event, with the understanding that the meal is separate from the CME activity and organizers’ guidelines are followed. The Code specifically states, “When companies underwrite CME, responsibility for and control over the selection of content, faculty, educational methods, materials, and venue belongs to the organizers of the conferences or meetings in accordance with their guidelines. The company should not provide any advice or guidance to the CME provider, even if asked by the provider, regarding the content or faculty for a particular CME program funded by the company.”

Travel
Reimbursement should not be offered for the costs of travel, lodging, or other personal expenses of non-faculty healthcare professionals attending continuing education events, either directly to the individuals participating in the event or indirectly to the event’s sponsor. Similarly, funding should not be offered to compensate for the time spent by healthcare professionals participating in the CE event.

Give Aways
Certain items may occasionally be given to healthcare professionals if they are primarily used for the education of patients or healthcare professionals and are valued at $100 or less. Some examples may include medical textbooks, journals, anatomical models, etc. Practice-related items, such as pens or notepads with a company/product logo are NOT allowed.

Entertainment
Providing entertainment or recreational activities for healthcare professionals is now prohibited. The previous code did allow social/entertainment events under certain circumstances. Sales representatives are no longer allowed to treat healthcare professionals to meals, but a company can arrange for an expert physician to make a presentation to a group of providers in an appropriate venue “conducive to informational communication.”

For more information and for a copy of the full Revised Code, please visit: http://www.phrma.org/code_on_interactions_with_healthcare_professionals/

A New Addition to the CFMC Family

Lorraine Pickrell has recently been hired as the CME Coordinator working with Lorraine Pickrell in the Office of Continuing Education. Jen began her career in the healthcare industry while working as a medical editor and writer in the Public Affairs Department of New York Presbyterian Hospital, developing and editing copy for their scientific print and online publications.

Over the next 4 years, Jen worked in the pharmaceutical advertising industry for such companies as Young & Rubicam (Sudler & Hennessey), The Medicus Group (LifeBrands), and KPR. It was during this time that she was a medical writer in various therapeutic areas, including asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, and COPD, among others.

Since moving to Denver, Jen has been the Editorial and Accreditation Manager for Grant Downing Education—formerly US Micron—and the Accreditation Manager for intellyst® Medical Education. At intellyst®, she was fundamental in acquiring their 4-year reaccreditation with the ACCME with exemplary compliance in Element 2.2 and their initial accreditation with the ACPE.

Jen originally hails from New York City and graduated from Fordham University with a BA in Communications/Journalism. She is looking forward to working with all of you in the near future!

Variety in Professional Credit

CFMC is a national accredited provider of CME and CNE. We also partner with other organizations on a regular basis to bring you professional credits for NAHQ, AAFP, and Pharmacy. For more information please call Lorraine Pickrell at 1-800-950-8250, ext. 3372 or visit us on the web www.yourCEsource.org.

Topics and Articles

If you have suggestions for newsletter topics, CME tips, CME success stories, or if you would like to submit an article for publication please contact us by email at yourCEsource@cfmc.org

As part of a quality improvement organization, it is our goal to continually strive for improvement. If you have comments or suggestions, we would like to hear from you. Visit us at www.yourCEsource.org or contact Lorraine Pickrell at 1-800-950-8250, ext. 3139, email yourCEsource@cfmc.org.

CFMC Upcoming Educational Activities

Visit www.yourCEsource.org for a complete list of upcoming educational activities.