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CMAJ
CME accreditation: separating education from promotion
M
ViktorCap/iStock/Thinkstock
any of the continuing medihow to improve collaboration and comthese offices, though not individual cation education (CME) munication in medical practices. The CME programs. An accredited CME programs attended by Canagoals of sponsors and corporate CME office is permitted to put the stamps of dian physicians are sponsored by providers, after all, might not align with the College of Family Physicians of industry, and though the medical bodthose of medical colleges. Canada and the Royal College of Phyies that accredit CME don’t discourage “That’s why we build checks and sicians and Surgeons of Canada on its this practice, they do attempt to ensure balances into the accreditation proprograms. doctors aren’t being fed veiled advergram,” says Meuser. To gain accreditation, a CME office tising for new drugs and must show it has policies medical devices. and processes in place “Our absolute, beginthat enable it, as much as ning obligation is to possible, to generate conensure that education tent that is free of bias. trumps promotion,” says This would include clear Dr. Jamie Meuser, execpolicies on soliciting and utive director of Profesmanaging grants from sional Development and industry, developing curPractice Support for the ricula, hiring speakers College of Family Physiand disclosing conflicts cians of Canada, which of interest. accredits CME for gen“As an accrediting eral practitioners. body, we haven’t said With that in mind, the that industry funding college is collaborating should go away,” says with the Royal College Disclosing the financial conflicts of interest of CME presenters is a require- Dr. José François, chair of Physicians and Sur- ment for accreditation. of the Committee on geons of Canada and the Accreditation of ContinuCollège des médecins du Québec to These safeguards include ensuring ing Medical Education at AFMC. “We develop a common standard on how to information presented at CME sessions say that people should be careful and treat commercial support of physician is backed by credible evidence and think strongly about what they are trying education. requiring speakers to disclose all finanto achieve and whether industry dollars Despite the risk of bias creeping into cial conflicts of interest. “We don’t disare helping them achieve that goal.” curricula, there are three potential beneallow people who have connection with Learning about new medications fits to corporate sponsorship of CME, pharmaceutical companies from particiand medical devices remains an imporsuggests Meuser. It pays for the develpating, but we insist on knowing,” says tant part of physician education, notes opment of education programs that othMeuser. “We don’t regard it as someFrançois. When talking about specific erwise wouldn’t exist. In addition, comthing that is wrong. We regard it as a products offered by sponsors, though, it munication companies that offer CME risk factor.” is important to explore both the pros also take care of all of the logistics The college is also working to and cons. involved in delivering the programs. And develop more programs itself, ones that “You want to have an honest conif corporate money were shunned, drug focus solely on the educational needs versation,” says François. “Sometimes companies and medical device makers of doctors, regardless of how attractive new products improve patient care, yes, would likely start offering more unacthey are to drawing industry funds. but they may also have a new set of credited programs, which wouldn’t be High-quality content will reach an risks.” — Roger Collier, CMAJ held to the same standards as those audience without subsidies, says Meuser. approved by accrediting bodies. “If we make it good, people will be preCMAJ 2014. DOI:10.1503/cmaj.109-4920 Still, acknowledges Meuser, the pared to pay for it.” involvement of industry does skew CME programs are also offered by This is part 2 of a series on Continuing CME offerings toward subjects like 16 of Canada’s 17 medical schools (the Medical Education. Find part 1, pharmaceutical interventions and away University of Alberta has no CME “Addressing bias in industry-funded from topics that might arise from a pure office). The Association of Faculties of CME,” at cmaj.ca assessment of physician needs, such as Medicine of Canada (AFMC) accredits E670
CMAJ, December 9, 2014, 186(18)
© 2014 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors
CMAJ
CME accreditation: separating education from promotion
M
ViktorCap/iStock/Thinkstock
any of the continuing medihow to improve collaboration and comthese offices, though not individual cation education (CME) munication in medical practices. The CME programs. An accredited CME programs attended by Canagoals of sponsors and corporate CME office is permitted to put the stamps of dian physicians are sponsored by providers, after all, might not align with the College of Family Physicians of industry, and though the medical bodthose of medical colleges. Canada and the Royal College of Phyies that accredit CME don’t discourage “That’s why we build checks and sicians and Surgeons of Canada on its this practice, they do attempt to ensure balances into the accreditation proprograms. doctors aren’t being fed veiled advergram,” says Meuser. To gain accreditation, a CME office tising for new drugs and must show it has policies medical devices. and processes in place “Our absolute, beginthat enable it, as much as ning obligation is to possible, to generate conensure that education tent that is free of bias. trumps promotion,” says This would include clear Dr. Jamie Meuser, execpolicies on soliciting and utive director of Profesmanaging grants from sional Development and industry, developing curPractice Support for the ricula, hiring speakers College of Family Physiand disclosing conflicts cians of Canada, which of interest. accredits CME for gen“As an accrediting eral practitioners. body, we haven’t said With that in mind, the that industry funding college is collaborating should go away,” says with the Royal College Disclosing the financial conflicts of interest of CME presenters is a require- Dr. José François, chair of Physicians and Sur- ment for accreditation. of the Committee on geons of Canada and the Accreditation of ContinuCollège des médecins du Québec to These safeguards include ensuring ing Medical Education at AFMC. “We develop a common standard on how to information presented at CME sessions say that people should be careful and treat commercial support of physician is backed by credible evidence and think strongly about what they are trying education. requiring speakers to disclose all finanto achieve and whether industry dollars Despite the risk of bias creeping into cial conflicts of interest. “We don’t disare helping them achieve that goal.” curricula, there are three potential beneallow people who have connection with Learning about new medications fits to corporate sponsorship of CME, pharmaceutical companies from particiand medical devices remains an imporsuggests Meuser. It pays for the develpating, but we insist on knowing,” says tant part of physician education, notes opment of education programs that othMeuser. “We don’t regard it as someFrançois. When talking about specific erwise wouldn’t exist. In addition, comthing that is wrong. We regard it as a products offered by sponsors, though, it munication companies that offer CME risk factor.” is important to explore both the pros also take care of all of the logistics The college is also working to and cons. involved in delivering the programs. And develop more programs itself, ones that “You want to have an honest conif corporate money were shunned, drug focus solely on the educational needs versation,” says François. “Sometimes companies and medical device makers of doctors, regardless of how attractive new products improve patient care, yes, would likely start offering more unacthey are to drawing industry funds. but they may also have a new set of credited programs, which wouldn’t be High-quality content will reach an risks.” — Roger Collier, CMAJ held to the same standards as those audience without subsidies, says Meuser. approved by accrediting bodies. “If we make it good, people will be preCMAJ 2014. DOI:10.1503/cmaj.109-4920 Still, acknowledges Meuser, the pared to pay for it.” involvement of industry does skew CME programs are also offered by This is part 2 of a series on Continuing CME offerings toward subjects like 16 of Canada’s 17 medical schools (the Medical Education. Find part 1, pharmaceutical interventions and away University of Alberta has no CME “Addressing bias in industry-funded from topics that might arise from a pure office). The Association of Faculties of CME,” at cmaj.ca assessment of physician needs, such as Medicine of Canada (AFMC) accredits E670
CMAJ, December 9, 2014, 186(18)
© 2014 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors
