Regularly Scheduled Series (Grand Rounds)
Annual Regularly Scheduled Series (RSS) are expected to be planned, implemented, and evaluated in compliance with the ACCME Essential Areas and Elements, the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, and CME Policies and Procedures. All RSS are expected to meet the ACCME Definition of an RSS and are expected to meet the AMA definition of continuing medical education.
A course is identified as an RSS when it is planned to have 1) a series with multiple sessions that 2) occur on an ongoing basis (offered weekly, monthly, or quarterly) and 3) are primarily planned by and presented to the accredited organization’s professional staff. Examples of activities that are planned and presented as a regularly scheduled series are Grand Rounds, faculty development courses, and tumor boards.
Each series equals one activity. The cumulative number of hours for all sessions within a series equals the number of hours for that activity. Each physician is counted as a learner for each session he/she attends in the series. (Example: Internal Medicine Grand Rounds is one activity that meets for one hour each month. That series is counted as one activity with 12 hours of instruction; if 20 physicians participate in each session, the total physician participants for the series would be 240).
Initial Planning and Requirements
RSS are certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ on an annual basis. Each clinical department is expected to complete and submit a CMDE Application along with required documentation. Applications are reviewed for completeness by the CME coordinator in the UT Graduate School of Medicine office of Communications and Outreach and forwarded to UT administration for final approval.
Budgeting and Financial Obligation
An annual certification fee will be assessed for each series. Also a transcript fee of $20 per person will be charged at the end of the series.
Activity Promotion
Series activities are typically promoted by means of email, flyer, newsletter or web site. A promotional material template should be submitted with each annual CME credit application. Actual promotional materials must be submitted to Communications and Outreach, which has final approval on all templates for promotional materials.
The prescribed accreditation statement must appear on all activity material including promotional materials.
The University Of Tennessee College Of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The University Of Tennessee College Of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of __ hour(s) of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Speakers
The majority of RSS are conducted by faculty and local speakers. Sponsoring clinical departments make arrangements for speakers. Clinical department coordinators are responsible for obtaining all required forms (Disclosure, Expense, etc.) from speakers scheduled for RSS. The course director assures that all appropriate information is disclosed to the audience.
Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships
All individuals with control over content for activities certified for credit must inform learners prior to the beginning of an activity whether relevant or no relevant financial relationships 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.
Speakers, medical directors, planning committee members or individuals having any control over activity content may not receive payment directly from a commercial interest for honoraria, travel or out-of-pocket expenses.
Required Forms
Course directors and/or coordinators will be provided with UT-designed forms that will assist with compliancy issues.
Each activity file must contain copies of (1) attendee lists; (2) evaluation summaries; (3) activity financial reconciliation; (4) speaker honorarium contracts; (5) financial disclosures; (6) all promotional material; (7) planning information; and (8) letters of agreement with commercial interests when applicable. These files are maintained for seven years.
Series Evaluation
It is important to demonstrate that evaluation data are used in planning CME activities. Standardized evaluation forms are provided by our office. Each evaluation form should be adjusted to meet individual activity goals and needs. If another evaluation method is used for an activity, a sample must be provided with the initial activity application.
Program Evaluation
As an accredited provider, UT periodically reviews: (1) the extent to which our mission is being achieved by our educational activities; (2) the extent to which educational objectives are being met; (3) the quality of the instructional process; and (4) participants’ perception of enhanced professional effectiveness.
Documentation for activities within a series is monitored quarterly by Communications and Outreach personnel.
The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
Office of Communications and Outreach
1924 Alcoa Highway
Knoxville, Tennessee 37920
Phone - (865) 305-9190
FAX - (865) 305-6823
cme@tennessee.edu