7 Things to Look For in CME Providers

Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Accredited CME Providers

One of the first things you should look for in a CME provider is ACCME accreditation. The ACCME accredits those who plan, produce and distribute CME activities. This process helps ensure CME companies offer content meeting licensing standards.

While there are other credentials you can look for, here’s what makes ACCME-accredited providers reliable:

• CME providers must produce scientifically-backed content
• Providers must adhere to strict guidelines to be compliant with ACCME requirements

In addition, the ACCME and the American Medical Association (AMA) have aligned their expectations. That means one of the most common credits, the AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, requires the organization to be accredited by ACCME or a state medical society.

Quality

Another crucial factor to consider when choosing a CME provider is the quality of the courses or materials. A company that develops a top-notch experience, from production to presenters, is integral.

Find CME providers with these qualities:

• Production value: Whether the company hosts in-person or online events, you should discover what the CME entails. Look for engaging and relevant discussions, workshops and lectures. CME providers should continuously evaluate the quality of their experiences through surveys, attendance numbers and regular conversations with stakeholders.
• Credibility: How long has the CME provider been in business? Are they new to the scene or have years of experience? You may also want to consider whether they have a larger parent company or only provide content for health professionals.
• Presenter choice: Finally, research who the CME company hires to speak or teach at conferences or workshops. What’s their educational or professional background? Where is the information they present coming from? Companies should recruit top presenters with advanced medical knowledge and professionalism.

Choose a CME provider that offers conference topics about relevant primary care issues. The subjects should reflect a changing healthcare environment and adaptations to complex challenges.

Flexibility

Another positive aspect of high-quality CME providers is flexible education. Considering many doctors have busy schedules, providing multiple modes of education gives more access to the content.

In general, CME companies offer these formats:

• In-person events: Live events often require planning but offer an immersive experience and networking opportunities.
• On-demand content: On-demand courses are self-directed, meaning you can access them online and complete them at your discretion.
• Live webinars: Webinars can be a beneficial alternative to in-person events because they provide interactive learning without requiring travel.

Choose a CME provider offering conferences or webinars in your preferred format. Or, better yet, find one with all three options so you can have plenty of flexibility based on your needs at any given time.

Cost

When choosing a CME provider, you’ll also want to think about your budget. While free CME options are available, paid conferences or courses are among the most beneficial.

With that in mind, you should seek companies offering events at a cost that coincides with your CME budget. Remember that paid CME uses some of the cost to cover professional speakers or content fees, making it worth the investment.

Learning Needs

Many people have preferred learning styles, which makes it crucial to find CME courses or seminars that match yours.

Are you a hands-on learner? Opt for in-person workshops or simulations. What about auditory? Lectures may work well for you. Visual? Maybe you need courses with demonstrations, graphs and charts.

Reviews and Recommendations

One of the next steps to finding the right CME provider is reading reviews or getting recommendations from peers. Search the company online and see what comes up under the reviews section.

You can also look at Reddit or social media forums to see what people say about the company. If you know a peer or friend who has attended seminars with a company, ask them if they would recommend it.

Use the information from these sources to determine whether the CME provider is high-quality, credible and a good fit for your needs.

User-Friendly Interface

Since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies have adapted by providing remote education options to meet the needs of doctors who can’t travel but need to complete CME credits. A user-friendly interface is as crucial to the online experience as if you were there in person.

Scope out the software or platform the CME provider uses to provide the content. You can ask yourself questions like:

• Is it easy to navigate?
• Is tech support available?
• Can you save your progress and return later?
• Is the platform compatible with multiple devices?
• Are there interactive features available with live or on-demand content?

In online CME, user-friendly technology helps the provider deliver a seamless experience. Doing your due diligence can help you find a suitable online CME company.