The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville


Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development

Continuing Medical Education Certification

The University of Tennessee College of Medicine (UTCOM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing Medical Education for physicians. The UT Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM) is a regional medical campus of the UTCOM in Memphis. The UTGSM is based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Within the UTGSM is the office of Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD), which is charged with the management of the ACCME accreditation for the Knoxville campus.

All conference planning relative to CME activities which are certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ must be coordinated by and through the office of Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD). Responsibilities between the CEPD, the Course Directors and Coordinators can and do differ depending on the type and scope of the activity. All ACCME-certified activities are expected to be planned, implemented, and evaluated in compliance with the ACCME Essential Areas and their Elements, the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, and the CEPD Policies and Procedures.

Initial Planning and Requirements

STEP 1:

It is important to involve the staff of the CEPD early in the planning process of a continuing medical education activity. Along with meeting very specific requirements, the office of CEPD has many tools and resources available. Please first contact the CEPD to ensure staff availability for your conference dates.

STEP 2:

The next step is the completion of a web-based Continuing Medical Education Application (you will be required to create a profile) for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ which is submitted to the CEPD along with required documentation. (Please see other Forms).

Please Note: Applications must be complete and submitted 60 days prior to the scheduled activity. Applications must provide documentation that is compliant with ACCME Standards and meet the definition of CME. After thorough review by the CEPD, the activity application packet is forwarded to the Associate Dean for CME at UT Chattanooga for final review and approval.

Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships

All individuals with control over CME activity content must disclose all relevant financial relationships that they may have with a commercial interest.

The ACCME defines a commercial interest as any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients. The ACCME does not consider providers of clinical service directly to patients to be commercial interests.

The ACCME defines a relevant financial relationship as a financial relationship in any amount, which occurred in the twelve-month period preceding the time that the individual was asked to assume a role controlling content of the CME activity, and which relate to the content of the educational activity, causing a conflict of interest.

All individuals with control over CME activity content must inform learners prior to the beginning of an activity whether relevant or not relevant financial relationships with a commercial interest exist.

When disclosing financial relationships to the learner, the individual's name, the name of the commercial interest(s) and the nature of the relationship with the commercial interest must be given. When there is no relevant financial relationship, learners must be informed that no financial relationship exists. Disclosure must never include trade names or product group messages. Anyone refusing to disclose relevant financial relationships will not be allowed to plan or present at the activity.

Financial Obligation

Income sources are primarily registration fees and exhibit fees.
 
There are educational grants from commercial interests such as pharmaceutical, hospital equipment, and health care product and service companies, however, the office of CEPD will not apply for any of these types of grants.  If a co-provider wishes to apply for educational grants for CME activities, the CEPD must have a Letter of Agreement (LOA) approved by the Associate Dean for CME in Chattanooga prior to the start date of the activity. The source of all support from commercial interests must be disclosed to learners.

The financial risk for any activity is the sole responsibility of the educational provider and not the office of CEPD.

Activity Promotion

Promotional materials must contain certain statements relative to CME credit and the educational program. These elements include registration policies, accessibility, learning objectives as well as the appropriate accreditation and certification statements.

The accreditation statement must appear on all activity material including promotional materials with the exception of initial save-the-date type activity announcements.

No wording such as “CME-certification is pending” is allowed per the ACCME.

The CEPD must have final approval on all brochures and promotional materials prior to mailing.

Please contact the CEPD staff for more details.

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