Forces Shaping the Future of CME Collaboration: Solutions for Harnessing the Positive and Mitigating the Negative is the theme for the 23rd Annual Conference of the National Task Force on CME Provider/Industry Collaboration. The conference will focus on four significant forces shaping the future of CME Provider and Industry Collaboration including:
- Cost-Constraints,
- Quality Improvement,
- Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), and
- Maintenance of Certification.
The meeting, scheduled for Oct. 11-12, 2012 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, will include expert analyses of how each “force” could positively or negatively affect the future of continuing medical education (CME) with examples of best practices for catalyzing positive change. J. David Haddox, DDS, MD, Vice President, Health Policy, Purdue Pharma L.P. will present the keynote address on how significant forces are shaping the complex environment in which CME providers and industry operate. Haddox will offer his insights on how these forces may positively or negatively affect future collaboration and the quality of CME.
The Shickman Lecture, presented annually to honor the late Martin D. Shickman, MD, who was a leader in demonstrating the importance of continuing medical education in quality patient care, will be presented by Carolyn M. Clancy, MD, Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Below is a summary of this year’s agenda.
Cost Constraints and Administrivia: Doing More with Less
In the rapidly evolving environment, CME/CE professionals are faced with the need to do more with less, not only in terms of money but also staff. This is a significant challenge in a context where processes and policies have become increasingly complex and burdensome to ensure compliance with all regulatory bodies and industry requirements. Representing views from both provider and industry, this interactive session will identify and discuss potential cost-effective solutions and new models that could result in reduced costs and administrivia, while preserving high quality CME designed to improve patient care. Recommendations from attendees will be addressed by the panel, including regulatory / compliance implications, which may be expanded upon in the case based session.
Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies: Integrating Education with Patient Safety
The Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA) gave the FDA the authority to require a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) from manufacturers to ensure that the benefits of a drug or biological product outweigh its risks. REMS thus represent an area where federal law may require companies marketing FDA regulated products to be involved in the education of health care professionals. Questions regarding accountability, evaluation, and independence must be resolved in order to comply with the current ACCME Standards for Commercial Support and the policies and practices that industry has implemented.
Quality Improvement, Continuing Medical Education, and New Models of Collaboration
The health of our nation and the healthcare system that supports it are hotly debated as needs increase, resources are limited, and practice evolves. Continuing education is adapting to focus on practice improvement with a goal toward sustainable improvement in health outcomes. This change requires adaptation of behaviors and innovative collaborative models among participants in, supporters, planners, and providers of CE/CME. Collaboration should allow us to more efficiently work toward our shared goals while managing conflicts related to each of our professional and stakeholder accountabilities.
Maintenance of Certification: Meeting Requirements and Exploring the Role for Industry in Achieving MOC Goals
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Maintenance of Certification ® (MOC) assures that the physician is committed to lifelong learning and competency in a specialty and/or subspecialty by requiring ongoing measurement of six core competencies adopted by ABMS and ACGME in 1999.
This is carried out by all Member Boards using a four-part process that is designed to keep certification continuous. In 2006, all Member Boards received approval of their ABMS MOC program. plans which are now being implemented. In September 2011, the ABMS approved the ABMS 2012-2015 Strategic Plan which serves as a bridge for more aggressive activities after 2015. The ABMS is exploring the concept of “MOC CME” as was initially communicated by the ABMS MOC Committee in its January 2011 White Paper. What will constitute MOC CME? What implications are there for CME providers? What role will industry be able to play? What are the potential funding models in support of MOC?
Working Together Within the Guidelines – Interactive Case Studies
Whether it’s the adoption of new models and practices, the need to address emerging controversies, or the need to ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations, it is clear that the forces of change have strong implications for CME collaboration. In this session, panelists representing various stakeholders (ACCME, AMA CEJA, FDA, industry and CME providers) will provide expert opinion on cases that reflect the complexity of CME, and discuss the compliance issues related to each case presented.
Other Topics
There will be various breakout sessions during this year’s conference. Regulation and other forces of change have become frequent and dynamic causing profound change impacting CME and industry collaboration. The intent of this session is to capture and present late-breaking topics of interest to those attending this year’s conference, such as implementation of the new Sunshine Act regulations and implications for CME for any changes in federal health care reform legislation and regulation. Session topics and faculty will be printed in the final conference program.