CME providers can label it as evidence-based

The American Academy of Family Physicians kicks off a groundbreaking accreditation system.

By Jay Greene, AMNews staff. Jan. 14, 2002.

Physicians taking continuing medical education courses accredited through the American Academy of Family Physicians will be able to participate in activities that have been designated as offering practice recommendations based on evidence-based medicine.

The AAFP has taken the lead in allowing CME providers the option to seek evidence-based medicine designation for certain activities. Other CME accrediting bodies are expected to follow suit.

"This is one of the most important initiatives to come along in years," said Dennis Wentz, MD, director of AMA's division on continuing physician professional development. "It is a turning point for CME. The impact will be long lasting and may well shift physician thinking as to what they consider appropriate scientific evidence."

Under the AAFP's new system, which began Jan. 1, CME courses eligible for prescribed credit -- comparable to the AMA's Physician's Recognition Award category one -- must either be evidence-based or customary and generally accepted medical practices. Those CME courses not evidence-based or customary and generally accepted, but not dangerous - defined as where the risks substantially outweigh benefits - are eligible for elective credits.

"What the AAFP is doing, along with what the ACCME plans on doing, will project a clear articulation of what is valued in the system from the regulators to the providers, and then in turn to the authors," said Murray Kopelow, MD, chief executive of the Accreditation Council for CME. "Once that is made explicit and clear, CME providers will implement that, and the whole education system will move toward more precise standards." [...]