CME Defined

The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education defines CME as:

Continuing Medical Education consists of education activities that serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, and professional performance and relationships that a physician uses to provide services for patients, the public, or the profession. The content of CME is that of 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.

A broad definition of CME, such as the one found above, recognizes that all continuing educational activities that assist physicians in carrying out their professional responsibilities more effectively and efficiently are CME. A course in management would be appropriate CME for physicians responsible for managing a health care facility; a course in practice management would be appropriate CME for physician practitioners interested in providing better service to patients.

Not all continuing educational activites that physicians may engage in are CME. Physicians may participate in worthwhile continuing education activities that are not related directly to their professional work, and these activities are not CME. Continuing education activities that respond to a physician's non-professional educational need or interest, such as personal financial planning, appreciate of literature or music or parent effectiveness are not CME.

Questions – Contact the CME office at 317-338-3460.