URSMD amongst top 5% of accredited CME providers

Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, President & CEO of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education meets with the CEL Certification team. Pictured (L to R): Cindy Freeland, Nisha Johar, Graham McMahon, Janine Shapiro, Kathy Piazza, Mary Beth Ebersol, Eileen Spezio, Sarah Peyre & Helina Kebede.

In terms of both average number of activities, and average learner interactions per year, the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (URSMD) ranks amongst the top 5% of all ACCME - Accredited Providers of Continuing Medical Education (CME). On average, the top 5% certify over 260 activities per year, with over 43,000 learner interactions. Between 2016 and 2018, URSMD’s Office of CME, housed in the Center for Experiential Learning (CEL), certified an average of 784 activities per year, with over 47,660 learner interactions. Over this period, the number of activities certified per year more than doubled, from 520 activities certified in 2016 to 1,082 certified activities in 2018. During that same period, the number of learner interactions increased from 41,141 to 55,261.

Accreditation of the Highest Standards

URSMD has been a provider of CME for several decades, and in 2015, was awarded Accreditation with Commendation. This distinction is reserved for those providers that consistently demonstrate the highest standards in CME programming and compliance. With URSMD’s six-year term ending in November, 2021, the CEL is currently preparing for the reaccreditation process. Our office plans to once again seek accreditation with commendation, although this time, it will be under new criteria established in 2016. The ACCME’s goal in establishing these new criteria is “to recognize the terrific achievements of organizations that advance interprofessional collaborative practice, address public health priorities, create behavioral change, show leadership, leverage educational technology, and demonstrate the impact of education on healthcare professionals and patients” (ACCME. 2016. ACCME Menu of New Criteria for Accreditation with Commendation). For more information, on how to plan an activity, or become involved with CME, please visit the certification home page.