Welcome to AOE’s August 2023 edition of AOE Compliance Connection, our monthly newsletter. In this edition, we feature some key takeaways from the ACCME Accreditation Workshop from the AOE staff member who was there, wrap up a fun summer series focused on CE compliance myths, and take a few moments for a quick review of Standard 2 of the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.
As summer winds down, we hope you and your team have been able to balance work and down-time. We look forward to partnering with you as we move into fall and tackle your new CE endeavors with energy and compliance! It only takes a minute to follow us on social media (Twitter and Facebook) for helpful weekly compliance tips and updates. Reach out any time with questions or CE compliance inquiries of any type: inquire@aoeconsulting.com.
ACCME: Accreditation Workshop Key Takeaways
The 2023 ACCME Accreditation Workshop, which took place earlier this month, was designed especially for those who are new to accredited continuing medical education. Attendees included seasoned professionals as well, including one of AOE’s program managers, Alexis LaCount. Having experienced the workshop firsthand, she shares that it provided, “…an ideal place for individuals in the accredited CE space to network with other providers, industry, and other organizations. The breakout sessions provided individuals with a smaller group setting to share thoughts, tips and tricks, and a comfortable space to ask questions directly of the ACCME. The information gained was extremely useful!”
LaCount brought back some key takeaways from the workshop to share with the AOE team, our clients, and newsletter subscribers.
- Educational planning was a priority of the workshop. Attendees improved their ability to recognize the various ways to identify practice gaps for their organizations and learners.
- The ACCME’s resources were introduced, spanning their various toolkits and templates. Much information is available for providers at www.accme.org.
- Standard 3 was a primary focus, specifically identification of relevant financial relationships (and erring on the side of caution and mitigating relationships when in doubt!) and becoming familiar with the three exceptions/special use cases for owners and employees of ineligible companies.
- The review of Standard 5 emphasized that any marketing, advertising, or exhibiting must be kept separate from the educational space and content.
- Providers were reminded that there is no penalty for applying for commendation during the reaccreditation process; even if commendation isn’t achieved, the feedback will be helpful. This feedback from the ACCME could be used for future planning within your program.
- Providers were encouraged to adopt the best practice of asking yourself or your planning committee, “How does this activity fit into a commendation criterion, or what could we do to make this activity work for commendation?” as part of the planning process.
- Strategies for reducing the rate of survey response attrition were discussed, including communication options, forewarning, expressing gratitude, and incentivization.
CE Compliance Help: ACCME Myths of the Month
The ACCME is tackling common myths that surround accreditation and the efficient planning of CE activities. Novice and seasoned CE teams alike can benefit from regular reflection on processes and streamlining! Today, we wrap up a summer newsletter series that features two key myths (and a summary of the response) each month. In June, we focused on the (incorrect!) assumption that the activity course chair must fill out the CE activity planning form and the (often misunderstood) role of publishing learning objectives. Last month, we turned our attention to the activity evaluation and collection of disclosure. This month, we’ll wrap up with the fifth and final ACCME Myth of the Month:
Myth #5: It is better to over-collect disclosures from individuals in an abundance of caution.
The ACCME lists some provider-supplied examples, as well: Asking about financial interests for family members, going beyond two years, not using the proper definition, or asking for new information after the event. If you have wondered this, know that you’re not alone!
This myth is, ultimately, false. The “more is better” cliché is just a myth. The ACCME explicitly warns against “over collecting” when it comes to disclosures. Just collect what the ACCME requires so as not to overburden your CE team (or the individuals involved in the activity). Find out what the ACCME requires in the way of disclosure requirements here.
Elizabeth Nettleton, CHCP, a member of the CME team at the American College of Physicians (ACP) and a volunteer surveyor with the ACCME, clarifies:
“Collecting more disclosures and writing more text in your self-study doesn’t improve your compliance – similar to back in college when writing more didn’t guarantee a higher exam grade. Having the correct practices and demonstrating these practices succinctly is all you need.”
That wraps up AOE’s summer series on the ACCME Myths of the Months! You can view the complete list of myths (and related realities) here.
Let’s Review: A Survey of the Standards (part 2)
The Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education were released in December 2020 with required implementation by January 1, 2022, officially replacing the established Standards for Commercial Support. The new Standards have been adopted by multiple boards in addition to the ACCM), including, but not limited to ACPE, AAFP, ANCC, and Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education.
As all providers are required to demonstrate ongoing compliance with the Standards, it is a good practice for CE teams to review and refresh on the content and requirements of each Standard. AOE helped many organizations transition their policies and procedures to align with the new Standards and remains poised to help your organization maintain compliance with all five Standards.
Over the next few months, AOE will be featuring one Standard per newsletter (Standard 1 got us started last month!), to ultimately offer readers insight and tools beyond a surface level.
Standard 2
The second of the 5 Standards, Standard 2 pertains to the prevention of commercial bias and marketing: “Accredited continuing education must protect learners from commercial bias and marketing.”
The various components of the standard flesh out the content validity requirements for compliant providers:
- The accredited provider must ensure that all decisions related to the planning, faculty selection, delivery, and evaluation of accredited education are made without any influence or involvement from the owners and employees of an ineligible company.
- Accredited education must be free of marketing or sales of products or services. Faculty must not actively promote or sell products or services that serve their professional or financial interests during accredited education.
- The accredited provider must not share the names or contact information of learners with any ineligible company or its agents without the explicit consent of the individual learner.
The ACCME clarifies the phrase “explicit consent of the learner” by stating that the accredited provider is expected to explain to learners that the provider intends to share their information with an ineligible company. This can be done at registration, as long as the learner has the option to “opt out” and still register for the CE activity. The consent statement must be clearly visible, not hidden in a long list of terms.
More information about all the Standards can be found here.
Upcoming Events
- CACME Annual Leadership Conference 2023
August 25, 2023, Denver, CO
Read More >> - MAACME 2023 Annual Conference
September 27-28, 2023, Pocono Manor, PA
Read More >> - ANCC NCPD Summit
October 10-11, 2023, Chicago, IL
Read More >> - ANCC 2023 National Magnet Conference
October 12-14, 2023, Chicago, IL
Read More >> - CMEpalooza Fall 2023
October 18, 2023, Virtual
Read More >>
