All continuing medical education (CME) activities held at Saint Louis University must be approved prior to the program by Saint Louis University School of Medicine Continuing Medical Education Program staff.
A signed service agreement from the SLU CME program does not constitute a guarantee that (AMA) credits will be awarded for the activity. Such service agreements give notice that the proposed educational activity has undergone review for needs assessment and conflict of interest.
Anyone not following the guidelines in the service agreement with regard to disclosure, content validation, fair and balanced therapeutic options, conflict of interest resolution, promotional material, budget finals and the policies listed below will not be granted AMA credits for all or a portion of the proposed activity.
General Guidelines for Developing a CME Course
Specific Steps for Developing a CME Course
Material Presented at all CME activities must follow the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) policy on content validation.
All the recommendations involving clinical medicine in a CME activity must be based on evidence that is accepted within the profession of medicine as adequate justification for indications and contraindications in the care of patients.
All scientific research referred to, reported or used in CME in support or justification of a patient care recommendation must conform to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection and analysis.
Providers are not eligible for ACCME accreditation or reaccreditation if they present activities that promote recommendations, treatment or manners of practicing medicine that are not within the definition of CME, or known to have risks or dangers that outweigh the benefits or known to be ineffective in the treatment of patients.
These requirements are outlined within the faculty invitation letter that can be found on the documents and form section.
Awarding of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits must be both pre-approved and granted by the Saint Louis University School of Medicine CME program. A CME provider from outside Saint Louis University may not grant CME credit unless approved in writing prior to planning the activity and justification proves the need for the joint providership. SLU CME would still be in control of the educational activity.
Joint Providership
The ACCME defines joint providership as the providership of a CME activity by one accredited and one non-accredited organization. Therefore, ACCME accredited providers that plan and present one or more activities with non-ACCME accredited providers are engaging in "joint providership."
Note that the ACCME does not intend to imply that a joint providership relationship is an actual legal partnership. Therefore, the ACCME does not include the words partnership or partners in its definition of joint providership or description of joint providership requirements.
The accredited provider must take responsibility for a CME activity when it is presented in cooperation with a non-accredited organization and must use the appropriate accreditation statement.
Informing Learners
The accredited provider must inform the learner of the joint providership relationship through the use of the appropriate accreditation statement. All printed materials for jointly provided activities must carry the following accreditation statement:
"This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Saint Louis University School of Medicine and [name of non-accredited provider]. The Saint Louis University School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians".
Commercial Support of Events
All letters of agreement for commercial support, hotel accommodations, meeting rooms and AV support, food and beverage service, or any other type of contract or agreement associated with a CME activity must undergo preliminary preview by the SLU CME program director.
SLU CME staff will route the contracts for review, approval and signature to the authorized signature approver for the School of Medicine. The dean of the School of Medicine and his designated faculty have sole signature authority to approve all contracts, letters of agreement, and acceptance of educational or equipment grants or other financial support for CME activities.
All standards for commercial support as outlined by the ACCME will be followed.
All educational funds must be processed through SLU CME, including funds for travel, hotel accommodations and honoraria. Saint Louis University policies for payment and reimbursement for travel, meals and honoraria must be followed.
For more information, contact the SLU CME Program at 314-977-7401 or cme@health.slu.edu.
Our staff is willing to help facilitate each phase of your activity to achieve an educational outcome for our learners that will provide tools for better patient outcomes.