Once an organization has achieved accreditation from the MMS, it
must demonstrate its adherence to the Essential Areas and
nationally recognized requirements for CME on an on-going
basis. For this reason, the MMS surveys accredited
providers every 1, 2 or 4 years depending on previously
demonstrated compliance, in order to evaluate each accredited
provider's program.
The accreditation manager will initiate the process by sending
out a letter to the DME and CME Coordinator approximately 9 months
before the organization's term is due to expire. This letter starts
the re-accreditation process by supplying the DME and CME
Coordinator with a timeline for which the survey must be completed
and a decision made by the MMS Committee on Accreditation
Review. Once a survey date is determined, a surveyor
team is assembled. The organization must complete and submit
the application (original plus 3 copies) to the MMS at least 2
weeks in advance of the survey date. The application fee of
$2500 (as of 6/1/05) is also due at this time.
For on-site surveys, once a survey date has been determined and
confirmed, the MMS surveyor team will attend a scheduled, live CME
activity to evaluate the presentation content as well the level of
compliance with regard to: attendance monitoring, faculty
disclosure, evaluation, commercial support and exhibits. In
addition, a 2-hour interview will be held with the DME, CME
Coordinator, members of the CME Committee and Medical Science
Librarian (if applicable). During the interview portion
of the survey, the surveyor team will ask questions to help
determine, in combination with the application and CME activity,
the organization's level of compliance with the Essential
Areas. Reverse site surveys are held at the MMS with no
observation of an educational activity. Eligible
organizations for reverse site surveys are notified at the time of
the letter that initiates the re-accreditation survey
process.
After the survey, the surveyor team members will write and
submit a report with their findings to the CAR. The CAR will review
the report at its next scheduled meeting and a decision will be
made about accreditation. At this time, an
accreditation fee of $2500 (as of 6/1/05) will be
due from the organization. The maximum term an organization
can receive for re-accreditation is 4 years. The organization will
be notified in writing about the results of the survey. MMS
will also notify the ACCME of the organization's new accreditation
term and expiration date.
