CME Accreditation for Institutions

The Massachusetts Medical Society is recognized by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the national organization that develops standards for quality continuing medical education (CME), to accredit organizations and institutions providing CME in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and its contiguous states.

MMS Accredited Providers

• MMS Accredited Providers
  

Process and Fees for Accreditation

• Initial Applicants Applying for Accreditation
• Re-Accreditation
• Guidelines for Accreditation Decisions
• Accreditation Fees for MMS State Accredited Providers (Effective August 1, 2016)
  

Resources to Assist With Implementation of Updated Accreditation Criteria

• ACCME Standards for Commercial Support^SM
• MMS Accreditation Requirements
• MMS Glossary of CME Terms
• Sources for Identifying Practice Gaps
• Websites to Assist with Identifying Practice Gaps
• Desirable Physician Attributes (.pdf, 1 page, 71 kb)
• Examples of Non-Educational Strategies

Policies, Procedures and Guidelines for Maintaining Accreditation

• Changes in CME Program Leadership or Organization
• Submission of Required Documentation and Fees
• Extension of Accreditation Term
• Mergers
• Process for Handling Complaints Related to Continuing Medical Education by MMS-Accredited Providers
• Reconsideration and Appeal of Adverse Accreditation Decisions
• Resources for Planning and Monitoring Regularly Scheduled Series
  This information and list of resources has been compiled by the ACCME  to provide you with convenient access to tools and education regarding the planning and implementation of Regularly Scheduled Series (RSS), as well as maintaining and presenting evidence of compliance with MMS’ Accreditation Criteria within RSS activities.  Please discard any documents you have pertaining to guidelines to Case Conferences as this information is outdated.
  

CME Accreditation Orientation Webinar Series

The following series has been developed as an introduction to the accreditation process to provide continuing medical education (CME).  The modules will include the ACCME Criteria and Standard for Commercial Support^SM and MMS guidelines and requirements.

• CME Accreditation Orientation Webinar – Module 1
  • This module will cover the stakeholders in CME, the AMA PRA Credit System and Designation Statement, the Accreditation Statement, the ACCME, and the Board of Registration in Medicine
    
• CME Accreditation Orientation Webinar – Module 2
  • This module will cover an overview of Accreditation Criteria 1-6 and Criteria 11-13.
    

Sample Forms & Documents

• Joint Providership Agreement (Word .doc, 5 pages)
• Designation/Accreditation Statement
• Content validation form (Word .doc, 1 page)
• Disclosure Form (Word .doc, 1 page)
• Performance-in-Practice Structured Abstract (Word .doc, 2 pages)
• Performance-in-Practice Labels (Word .doc, 1 page)
• Continuing Medical Education (CME) Coordinator Sample Job Description (Word .doc, 2 pages)
• Director of Medical Education (DME) Sample Job Description (Word.doc, 2 pages)
  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Accreditation Criteria

Where can I find examples of Compliance and Non-Compliance of the Accreditation Criteria?  

What is a Regularly Scheduled Series (RSS), and how are they reported in PARS?

How are Regularly Scheduled Series (RSS) reported in PARS?

What are some sources to help identify practice gaps – Criterion 2?

Where can I find a sample of a disclosure form?

What are methods/mechanisms to resolve a conflict of interest?

What are some examples of language to make disclosure to learners?

Are electronic signatures on disclosure forms acceptable? 

What is the difference between relevant relationships and significant relationships?

Examples of program analysis for Criterion 12

How should the Credit Designation and Accreditation Statements be listed on activity materials?

Licensing Board Regulations

What qualifies for Risk Management (RM)? And how should it be listed on promotional materials?

What language should be used to designate activities that are eligible for Risk Management Study?

Accreditation Survey

How should the Self-Study be organized?

What will the Survey Interview entail?

What is the deadline for submitting annual accreditation and other fees?  

Reporting in PARS

What is the deadline for submitting to Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS)?

How to do a “batch upload” of activities into PARS.

Other

Sample Director of Medical Education Job Description

Sample CME Coordinator Job Description

Writing learning/activity objectives

Helpful Links

• ACCME: A great resource for interpretation of compliance criteria
• Curriculum for New CME Staff and Volunteers
• Positioning Your CME Program for Organizational Impact

Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS)

All MMS accredited providers are required to submit annual activities to the Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS).

Applications & Questions

For an initial or re-accreditation application, or any questions regarding accreditation of an organization or institution, please contact Jessica L. Vautour, Manager, Recognized Accreditor Program, MMS Department of Continuing Education & Certification at (781) 434-7903 or jvautour@mms.org.