Continuing Medical Education as a Strategic Resource

A new report from the AHA’s Physician Alliance recommends ways to improve the value of continuing medical education to hospitals. Hospitals provided 35% of the accredited CME in 2013, investing close to $1 billion. “CME allows physicians to reach their full potential both as caregivers and leaders of the health care field,” said AHA Senior Vice President John Combes, MD. “We have an opportunity to use CME strategically to achieve the goals not only of individual physicians but the entire delivery system to meet the needs of the patients and communities we serve.”

To improve the use of CME as a strategic resource for hospitals, the report recommends greater use of performance-based CME; more streamlined accreditation standards; broader sharing of best practices; increased communication between CME departments and senior leadership; and greater involvement of physician leaders as CME champions.