PATHWAYS TO COMPETENCEPATHWAYS TO COMPETENCEFOR CME PROFESSIONALSFOR CME PROFESSIONALS::Options & Opportunities for Options & Opportunities for

Professional RecognitionProfessional Recognition

Judy Ribble, PhD, FACMEJudy Ribble, PhD, FACME

President, National CommissionPresident, National Commission

for Certification of CME for Certification of CME Professionals Professionals

October 18, 2006October 18, 2006

BaltimoreBaltimore

Objectives for this presentationObjectives for this presentation

… … you should be able to:you should be able to:

1. Determine whether CME can be 1. Determine whether CME can be considered a profession considered a profession 

  

2. Consider certification as an option 2. Consider certification as an option for recognition of CME professionals for recognition of CME professionals

What is an Occupation?What is an Occupation?

• ““The principal activity (The principal activity (job, work, callingjob, work, calling) ) that earns money … for a person.”that earns money … for a person.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation

What is a Profession?What is a Profession?

• “… “… an occupation that requires extensivean occupation that requires extensive trainingtraining

and … and … specializedspecialized knowledge …knowledge …

• … … andand usually has ausually has a professional associationprofessional association, , ethical codeethical code andand process ofprocess of certificationcertification oror licensinglicensing.” .” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profession

– Historically there were only three Historically there were only three classic professions: classic professions: ministry, medicine, and lawministry, medicine, and law

– Members of a Members of a professionprofession

were expected to were expected to professprofess

a higher standard of accountabilitya higher standard of accountability

Examples of ProfessionsExamples of Professions

Accounting MedicineAccounting MedicineArchitectureArchitecture The MilitaryThe MilitaryThe ClergyThe Clergy NursingNursingEngineeringEngineering PharmacyPharmacyFinanceFinance Teaching Teaching LawLaw

Professional EthicsProfessional Ethics

E.g., Responsibilities of E.g., Responsibilities of AttorneysAttorneys

– act in a professional manneract in a professional manner– obey the lawobey the law– avoid conflicts of interestavoid conflicts of interest– put the interests of clients ahead of put the interests of clients ahead of

their own interests their own interests

CharacteristicsCharacteristics of of ProfessionalsProfessionals

• ““ProfessProfess” a higher standard of ” a higher standard of accountabilityaccountability– Accountable to the publicAccountable to the public– Make decisions in complex situationsMake decisions in complex situations– Possess specialized knowledge Possess specialized knowledge – Trained to interpret rules & regulationsTrained to interpret rules & regulations– Demonstrate defined competenciesDemonstrate defined competencies– Be self-governing within the professionBe self-governing within the profession

Characteristics of Characteristics of ProfessionalsProfessionals

“ “The obligation to educate the The obligation to educate the clientclient

is often seen as a key part is often seen as a key part

of the definition.” of the definition.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profession#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profession#History

CompetenceCompetence

… … as defined by George Miller, MD: as defined by George Miller, MD:

The competent learner…The competent learner…… … knows (masters knows (masters

content)content)… … knows how (gains skills)knows how (gains skills)… … demonstrates how (passes tests)demonstrates how (passes tests)… … and does and does (performs) (performs)

Definition of CompetenceDefinition of Competence

… … as defined by the Alliance for CME:as defined by the Alliance for CME:

CME professionals are competent CME professionals are competent “ “when they use (practice, or apply) when they use (practice, or apply) the [defined] knowledge, skill, or behavior.”the [defined] knowledge, skill, or behavior.”

““This … requires This … requires assessmentassessment and and performance performance measurementsmeasurements and some form of and some form of certificationcertification processprocess, which do not exist currently.”, which do not exist currently.”

Competency Areas for CME ProfessionalsCompetency Areas for CME Professionals Alliance for CME Website, Alliance for CME Website, www.acme-assn.orgwww.acme-assn.org

Criticism of Professional Criticism of Professional GroupsGroups

• Exclusive “guild mentality”Exclusive “guild mentality”- Laymen can be prohibited from practicing - Laymen can be prohibited from practicing

the professionthe profession

• Entrance into a profession can be limitedEntrance into a profession can be limited- Creating a monopoly of initiates- Creating a monopoly of initiates

• Self-servingSelf-serving- “to enhance position in the labour markets” - “to enhance position in the labour markets”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profession#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profession#History

Does CME Qualify as a Does CME Qualify as a Profession?Profession?

Is CMEIs CME ““an occupation that requires an occupation that requires extensiveextensive

trainingtraining and … and … specialized knowledgespecialized knowledge”?”?For examples of specialized knowledge required of For examples of specialized knowledge required of

CME Professionals, go to:CME Professionals, go to:1. www.ACCME.org1. www.ACCME.org2. www.AMA-ASSN.org 2. www.AMA-ASSN.org 3.3.http://OIG.HHS.GOV/fraud/docs/http://OIG.HHS.GOV/fraud/docs/

complianceguidance/042803pharmacymfgnonfr.pdfcomplianceguidance/042803pharmacymfgnonfr.pdf 4.4. http://www.fda.gov/cber/gdlns/sciedu.txthttp://www.fda.gov/cber/gdlns/sciedu.txt

Does CME Qualify as a Does CME Qualify as a Profession?Profession?

Do we have Do we have ““aa professional professional association”?association”?SACME Society for Academic CME SACME Society for Academic CME

ACME Alliance for CME ACME Alliance for CME • PACME Pharmaceutical Alliance for CMEPACME Pharmaceutical Alliance for CME• MECCA Medical MECCA Medical

Education/CommunicationEducation/Communication Company Alliance Company Alliance

NAAMECC North American Alliance of MedicalNAAMECC North American Alliance of Medical Communication CompaniesCommunication Companies

CACHECACHE Canadian Association for Health Canadian Association for Health EducationEducation

GAME Global Alliance for CMEGAME Global Alliance for CME … … and others …and others …

Does CME Qualify as a Does CME Qualify as a Profession?Profession?

Do we have Do we have ““anan ethical code”? ethical code”?

Alliance for CME’s Code of Ethical Alliance for CME’s Code of Ethical ConductConduct- Describes ethical conduct in 11 areas of Describes ethical conduct in 11 areas of

CME practiceCME practice

http://www.acme-assn.org/about/CodeOfConduct.shtmlhttp://www.acme-assn.org/about/CodeOfConduct.shtml

Does CME Qualify as a Does CME Qualify as a Profession?Profession?

Do we have “a process of certification or Do we have “a process of certification or licensing”?licensing”?

Certification of CME ProfessionalsCertification of CME ProfessionalsPosition Statement Position Statement

““1. The Alliance will focus its efforts on the 1. The Alliance will focus its efforts on the development of educational programming based development of educational programming based on the Alliance’s Competencies….on the Alliance’s Competencies….

2. The Alliance will not develop or offer a formal 2. The Alliance will not develop or offer a formal certification program for CME professionals ….”certification program for CME professionals ….”

http://www.acme-assn.org/about/cmecert.pdfhttp://www.acme-assn.org/about/cmecert.pdf

Effective January 4, 2006Effective January 4, 2006

OpportunitiesOpportunities & Options & Options

Certification can benefit the CME Certification can benefit the CME ProfessionaProfessional l by:by:

• Positioning CME as a career pathPositioning CME as a career path

• Acknowledging competence; rewarding Acknowledging competence; rewarding excellenceexcellence

• Motivating new learningMotivating new learning

Opportunities & OptionsOpportunities & Options

Certification can benefit the Certification can benefit the employeremployer by: by:

• Providing evidence of continuous Providing evidence of continuous improvementimprovement

• Aiding in recruiting, evaluating, and Aiding in recruiting, evaluating, and promoting CME staffpromoting CME staff

• Reducing the risks of non-complianceReducing the risks of non-compliance

Opportunities & OptionsOpportunities & Options

Certification can benefit Certification can benefit the entire CME the entire CME universeuniverse by: by:

• Increasing attendance at workshops and Increasing attendance at workshops and conferences conferences

- sponsored by ACCME, SACME, the Alliance, - sponsored by ACCME, SACME, the Alliance, State Societies, and othersState Societies, and others

• Protecting the public’s healthProtecting the public’s health

Thank youThank you

To download this slide presentationTo download this slide presentation

go to: go to: www.NC-CME.orgwww.NC-CME.org

Judy Ribble, PhD, FACMEJudy Ribble, PhD, FACMENational Commission National Commission

for Certification of CME Professionalsfor Certification of CME Professionals