Welcome to the AOE Compliance Connection, AOE Consulting’s monthly newsletter. This resource offers accreditation board bulletins for ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC, along with regulatory updates, highlights of AOE’s services, and information on upcoming activities and educational opportunities.
Navigating Education Excellence is our work. Our combined experience has improved effectiveness and success for more than 50 education providers, pharmaceutical CME/IME teams, hospitals, academic centers, and associations. Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.” At AOE, excellence is more than a habit—it’s our business.
Enjoy this month’s edition of AOE Compliance Connection! We encourage you to visit www.aoeconsulting.com for more information, including weekly compliance tips and bi-monthly video blogs!
Accreditation Board Bulletin
ACCME: The ACCME said goodbye to Murray Kopelow, MD, MS(Comm), FRCPC after more than 30 years of leadership and service to the CME community – 20 of these years spent as the ACCME’s Chief Executive. As of the first of April, Graham T. McMahon, MD, MMSc, has taken the helm as the ACCME’s President and CEO.
Dr. McMahon joined the ACCME from Harvard Medical School, where he serves as Associate Dean for Continuing Education and Associate Professor of Medicine. Additionally, he teaches at both Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He is a native of Dublin, Ireland, where he received his medical education. Dr. McMahon earned his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons and a doctoral degree in medical education from the National University of Ireland. He is board certified in internal medicine, as well as in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism. He earned a Master of Medical Science in Clinical Research from Harvard Medical School.
The ACCME’s Bridge to Quality Workshop on April 23-24, is quickly approaching. This is a great opportunity for CME professionals and their stakeholders – at varying levels of skill and experience – to receive vital professional development. It is also a great opportunity to meet the ACCME’s new President and CEO, Dr. McMahon! http://www.accme.org/events/cme-bridge-quality-accreditation-workshop-5
ANCC: ANCC’s Annual Symposium of Continuing Nursing Education will be taking place July 14, 2015 at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Registration for this meeting is open now and is appropriate for anyone who is involved in planning or approving continuing education, CNE Coordinators, CE providers, Education Managers, Nurse Educators, Nurse Planners, Instructors, and Staff Development Professionals. The content will focus on interprofessional education, research design, instructional design, and ANCC Accreditation updates. Participants should expect to leave the meeting having learned and experienced new learning models, listened to leading experts in the CE community, and met and networked with colleagues. The cost to attend is $279.00, or $229.00 for ANA/ANPD Members. Learn more by visiting http://www.nursecredentialing.org/CNE-Symposium
ACPE: ACPE’s Annual CPE Administrator’s workshop is scheduled to take place April 27-28 in Chicago, IL. Registration for the spring workshop is closed; however, the fall Administrator’s Workshop will take place in October. The workshop is a valuable resource for ACPE accredited providers and examines ACPE Standards for CPE, the Web Tool Tutorial, ACPE Policies and Procedures, Competencies for CPE Administrators and Standards for Commercial Support. Registration questions can be directed to Angie Campbell at acampbell@acpe-accredit.org. You can learn more by visiting: https://www.acpe-accredit.org/ceproviders/EducationForAdministrators.asp.
Sunshine Act (PPSA) Pulse
What questions do you have surrounding PPSA? How does PPSA affect you and your organization? What are you required to report? How does the CME exception affect me? AOE Consulting receives many questions related to PPSA, and several of the most frequently asked questions, include:
- We are having an ACCME accredited CME meeting at a steak house, expecting 20 people to attend. XYZ Pharmaceuticals provided the funding for this program; do we have to report these meals?
- Ultimately it depends on the reporting requirements set for from the commercial supporter (usually documented in the Letter of Agreement), however the PPSA states that yes these meals would have to be reported.
- Isn’t it the commercial supporter who must report and not the CME provider?
- It is the commercial supporter’s job to report to CMS, but the commercial supporter will require the CME provider to collect the data that they need to report. This will be stipulated in the Letter of Agreement as to what type of data needs to be collected and reported to the funder.
- We are providing an ANCC accredited symposium at an annual meeting. One of our faculty members is a physician; do we have to report their expenses?
- No, based on the removal of the exemption to the PPSA ruling in October 2014, all faculty expenses from accredited programs are exempt from reporting.
AOE Service in the Spotlight
Here at AOE, we put our expertise to work for you. Whether you are preparing for reaccreditation, mid-way through your accreditation term or you are simply considering changes, our CME/CE Program Audit allows you to benchmark your CME/CE program, analyze gaps in CME/CE programs, and implement learner-focused education strategies and outcomes methods that validate your CME/CE mission.
Our CME consultants lead a process mapping discussion across each step of CME/CE planning, implementation and reconciliation, to assess your CME/CE program, making recommendations for improved program efficiencies based on your unique goals. Our feedback is tailored for your success and spans the following instructional design steps:
- Education Activity and Outcomes Design
- Commercial Support
- Content Development & Logistics
- Education Marketing
- Activity Launch
- Post Activity Evaluation
- Reconciliation
Our team of staff and seasoned CME/CE experts brings value to your organization by keeping your CME/CE programs current with the times. Change continually reshapes the CME/CE accreditation and re-accreditation field, which is why we begin by covering the bases. In sum, our CME/CE Program Audit offers the training you need to hit your goals. AOE is your fan—let us cheer you on.
Upcoming Activities/Education Opportunities
- 2015 Alliance Industry Summit
May 11-13, 2015, Philadelphia, PA
http://www.acehp.org/p/ca/vi/sid=1 - 2015 Alliance Quality Symposium
September 28-30, 2015, Chicago, IL
http://www.acehp.org/p/ca/vi/sid=3 - ANCC Pathway to Excellence Conference® 2015
May 14-15, 2015, Louisville, KY
http://www.nursecredentialing.org/PathwayConference - CME as a Bridge to Quality Accreditation Workshop
April 23-24, 2015, Chicago, IL
http://www.accme.org/events/cme-bridge-quality-accreditation-workshop-5 - CME Palooza
April 8, 2015
http://cmepalooza.com/spring/
