The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Office of Continuing Medical Education has recently received Accreditation with Commendation and a 6 year term of exemplary accreditation as a sponsor of continuing medical education for physicians by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).

We are proud to join an elite group of organizations in the United States that have been awarded this prestigious status as the highest rating available by a CME provider "reserved for programs which are truly exceptional," according to ACCME policy. The ACCME rigorously evaluates the overall continuing medical education programs of institutions according to standards adopted by all seven member organizations of the ACCME: the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, the Association for Hospital Medical Education, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Council of Medical Specialty Societies and the Federation of State Medical Boards. ACCME accreditation seeks to assure both physicians and the public that continuing medical education activities provided by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine meet the high standards of the Essential Areas, Elements and Policies for Accreditation as specified by the ACCME.

The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education to physicians.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of continuing medical education at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine is to assist physicians in the maintenance of their commitment to life long learning and improved patient care through the provision of high quality CME activities and initiatives.

CME PURPOSE

Our continuing medical education program benefits from the combined presence of a strong academic medical school and a fully integrated health system (UPHS). In keeping with the overall missions of the School, the Health System, and the University, the major goal of our program is to provide a mechanism for diffusion of cutting-edge research, technological advancements, and training into general medical community. We strive to objectively present up-to-date, clinically relevant, scientifically rigorous, evidence-based medical information in order to promote excellence in all aspects of medical care, patient safety, and the effective use of resources.

TARGET AUDIENCE

The Office of CME develops the University of Pennsylvania School of  Medicine's CME activities for physicians and other healthcare professionals  across the full range of medical specialties and subspecialties. Most  educational activities developed through the OCME are designed for  practicing physicians providing a continuum of care from primary through  tertiary and rehabilitative medicine. The majority of participants are from  the Tri-State area (ie, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware). However,  many of our programs attract national and international audiences.  Participants may include research faculty, staff (including residents, fellows, and medical students), and other healthcare providers in team- and system-based learning modules. 

CONTENT AREAS

The scope of the content areas of the CME Program at the University of  Pennsylvania School of Medicine is comprehensive. The majority of activities  focus on clinical updates and latest research across all therapeutic areas.  Other content areas include bioethics, insights into alternative/complementary medicine, development of physicians' business and leadership skills, and reviews of new diagnostic techniques, therapies and procedures.

The Office of CME is coordinating its efforts with other elements within the  University, the School, and UPHS to optimize the development of educational initiatives that focus on patient care, medical knowledge, practice based learning and improvement, professionalism, system-based practice, and interpersonal and communication  skills.

TYPES OF ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES PROVIDED

A wide spectrum of educational activities and instructional methods are  utilized drawing upon the rich and diverse educational expertise of our  faculty. Types of educational formats produced range from didactic lectures,  symposia, case-based conferences, and grand rounds to skills and review  courses, mini-fellowships and preceptorships, national educational  initiatives, journal articles and self-directed learning materials (ie,  instructional videotapes, monographs, and web-based programming). The OCME  provides a full range of services for planning and producing CME activities  in live meetings and self-study formats in conjunction with the clinical and  research departments of the medical school. These services include  educational and regulatory consulting, budget management, marketing, meeting  coordination, evaluation of results of individual activities as well as the overall CME program, and faculty training.

We are interested in educational interventions that take into account  principles derived from adult learning research and strongly promote the  development of educational initiatives that incorporate engaging,  learner-centered, interactive delivery models.

EXPECTED RESULTS OF THE PROGRAM

The following are the expected results of the Penn CME program over the next two years:

• Focus on creating additional need-based interactive educational initiatives that provide a continuum of medical education to physicians and increase the national and international presence of Penn CME program
• Develop mechanisms for the physician learner's self-assessment of existing knowledge and skills and the subsequent provision of highly targeted educational offerings to meet his/her individualized educational needs
• Initiate collaboration with internal and external partners to gather and analyze data that would provide insight into physicians performance and clinical effectiveness as part of the assessments of the educational impact of our activities

Revised and approved: March 10, 2003

The Office of Continuing Medical Education is housed in the School of Medicine providing a solid academic foundation for all CME activities. The OCME is the accredited provider of continuing medical education activities developed for internal audiences within the Health System, as well as external physicians, and those activities developed by any entity of the Health System for practicing physicians. The OCME holds the responsibility of assuring the highest possible educational quality of all activities as well as assuring compliance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. The OCME is the only office within the UPHS that has the ability to designate education activities to carry AMA Category 1 credit hours. All entities of the UPHS must apply for this designation through the Office of CME and utilize the services the Office provides from consultation to conference management.

The major strength of CME at the University of Pennsylvania is the expertise of faculty, many of whom, are recognized leaders in academic medicine and have international reputations. The institution is very strong in its research and clinical programs. Many departments, centers, and institutes develop CME activities that bring cutting-edge technology and the latest; research findings to practicing physicians.