MMS Joint Sponsorship Overview

August 3, 2009

The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) may, at its own discretion, enter into joint sponsor agreements with non-accredited providers, when the submitted activities align with the CME mission statement (link) and the joint sponsor agrees to abide by all policies of the MMS in its Joint Sponsorship Agreement (link). 

The submitted educational activities must be designed to improve physician competence, performance, and/or patient outcomes.  All potential joint sponsors must be familiar with the ACCME’s Standards for Commercial SupportSM and must submit an Initial Application for Submitting an Activity for Review and an Activity Planning Document 5-6 months prior to the start date of the activity.  The MMS Committee on Sponsored Programs carefully reviews all submissions and approves activities based on several review criteria.  The Committee reserves the right not to approve an activity for joint sponsorship.
Organizations wishing to consider jointly sponsoring an activity with the MMS should, after careful review of the documentation below, following the Instructions for Submitting an Activity for Review .

The MMS will not consider joint sponsorship with organizations wishing to 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 outweight the benefits or known to be ineffective in the treatment of patients. The MMS will not sponsor or jointly sponsor a CME activity devoted to advocacy of unscientific modalities of diagnosis or therapy. The MMS will not jointly sponsor a CME activity with an organization that produces, markets, re-sells or distributes health care goods or services consumed by, or use on, patients.  

Note: the submitted activity must be open to attendance by MMS members.

• Instructions for Submitting an Activity for Review
  Provides background information on the process
  
  
• Initial Application for Joint Sponsorship of a CME Activity (.pdf)
  Fill out and submit the Initial Application in order to be considered for a Joint Sponsorship activity
  
  
• MMS Joint Sponsorship Policy
  Information on the MMS policy and strategic priorities
  
  
• MMS CME Mission Statement
  Highlights the purpose and types of services provided
  
  
• Fees
  Provides the criteria that Joint Sponsorship fees are calculated by
  
  
• Activity Planning Document (.pdf)
  Fill out this document to highlight the educational needs and clarify goals for sponsorship
  
  
• Verbs for Formulating Educational Objectives (pdf)
  Provides a list of appropriate verbs to be used in stating objectives
  
  
• MMS Joint Sponsorship Agreement (.pdf)
  If your request for joint sponsorship has been approved, the MMS will fill out this document and have you sign it
  
  
• Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Standards for Commercial Support (.pdf)
  Provides additional information on the appropriate use of commercial support
  
  
• ACCME Web Site www.accme.org
  Provides additional information
  
  
• Conference Center at Waltham Woods 
  The Conference Center at Waltham Woods offers a discount to organizations who jointly sponsor CME activities with the Massachusetts Medical Society.