TMA Accreditation Connection

February 2017

What's New in CME?  

 New Sections on TMA's Website for CME Providers

Professional Development
A list of professional organizations, information on certification, and educational opportunities to support accredited providers. 

CME in Support of MOC — ABA, ABIM, and ABP
Information and educational resources to support the expansion of MOC offerings in Texas. 

New Criteria for Accreditation with Commendation — TMA Transition Phase, Self-Study Report Outline & Criteria 36-38 “Achieves Outcomes” Tutorial Available

TMA Transition Phase
Providers seeking Accreditation with Commendation and receiving accreditation decisions January 2018 through January 2020 have the option of demonstrating compliance with either Option A (Criteria 16-22) or Option B (Menu of Criteria 23-38). As with the existing commendation criteria 16-22, compliance with the menu of new commendation criteria is optional for continuing medical education (CME) providers and is not required to achieve accreditation.

Self-Study Report Outline
The new outline and instructions are included in the CME Accreditation for January 2018 Cohorts document on TMA’s website. 

Criteria 36-38 “Achieves Outcomes” Tutorial
Providers seeking to achieve commendation under the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s (ACCME's) Menu of Criteria for Accreditation with Commendation need to meet the expectations of any seven criteria from the five menu categories plus at least one of the criteria from the “Achieves Outcomes” category. ACCME offers a tutorial, Achieves Outcomes: Educational Resources for Accredited Providers Pursuing Accreditation with Commendation, composed of educational resources to help providers attain compliance with Criteria 36-38 in the “Achieves Outcomes” category of the new menu of criteria for Accreditation with Commendation. 

In the coming months, we will deliver additional educational resources and training for TMA-accredited providers.  

ACCME Modifies Interpretation of Standards for Commercial Support Regarding Relevant Financial Relationships 
At the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Committee, several Recognized Accreditors, and some physician faculty members, the board modified the interpretation of the Standards for Commercial Support℠ (SCS): Standards to Ensure Independence in CME Activities (SCS) related to relevant financial relationships. In situations where a person in control of CME content discloses that their spouse or partner is an employee of a commercial interest and the content being controlled is related to the products/services of that commercial interest, then that person will now be considered to have a relevant financial relationship. (Previously, that person would have been considered a commercial interest employee because of their spouse's/partner’s employment.) 

As with any relevant financial relationship, providers must implement mechanisms to resolve these conflicts of interest per SCS 2. (There is no change to the restrictions on the use of employees of ACCME-defined commercial interests as faculty and planners.) 

New AMA PRA Frequently Asked Question for CME Providers 
Q: Does the AMA place a limit on the amount of time physicians have to claim AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ after participation in an educational activity?

A: The AMA does not set a limit on the amount of time accredited CME providers can give physicians to claim credit for an activity. The accredited CME provider has the authority to set a limit, but if you do, physicians should be made aware of what the time limit is prior to participation in the activity. 

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In the Spotlight 

Accreditation with Commendation
At its January 2017 meeting, the TMA Committee on Continuing Education awarded these organizations Accreditation with Commendation, which confers a six-year term of accreditation:    

  • Houston Hospice
  • St. Joseph Medical Center, Houston    

Congratulations! Over 50 percent of TMA-accredited providers hold Accreditation with Commendation. 

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Compliance Reminders

PARS 2016 Activity Data Entry Deadline — March 31
Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS) is open for data entry for the 2016 reporting year. The deadline for completing data entry for the 2016 reporting year is not until March 31, 2017. 

Access PARS at www.accme.org by using your email address and provider identification number. If you are new to your organization and need information about your organization for PARS, please contact Casey Harrison in the TMA CME office. Do not contact ACCME, which will direct you to TMA. 

Educational Resources
About PARS includes login instructions, reminders, improvements for reporting 2016 data, batch upload resources, Q&A, and video FAQs. 

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Leading Change — Improving the Quality and Delivery of Medical Education

To assist CME providers in implementing the American Board of Internal Medicine Maintenance of Certification Medical Knowledge in their organizations, ACCME has provided a resource, which includes examples of evaluation approaches that providers can use in activities that count for ABIM MOC. 

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Calendar of Events for Professional Development

March 15 | 2 – 3 pm CT — ACCME Webinar: CME that Counts for MOC Webinar
The webinar, which is open to all providers, will give you the opportunity to learn more about registering activities for MOC credit, and hear insights from providers that have begun registering activities for MOC. 

You’ll learn about more options for high-quality education that meets multiple requirements. Your activities will be displayed in the ACCME’s new web tool, CME Finder, enabling physicians to search for activities in Texas that best meet their needs. 

ACCME will also share the successes of the past year’s collaborations with the American Board of Anesthesiology® (ABA®), ABIM, and American Board of Pediatrics (ABP). ACCME will alsodiscuss the new developments and opportunities expected in the coming year while answering your questions. 

Register for the webinar here.
More info is available here: http://www.accme.org/news-publications/highlights/cme-counts-moc-webinar-march-15.

April 24-27, 2017 — ACCME 2017 Meeting: Evolution, Innovation, and Alignment
The ACCME 2017 Meeting will bring together participants from a broad spectrum of health care organizations — as a larger group, as well as in small, hands-on sessions — to share best practices in education, create action plans to drive innovation, explore opportunities for alignment among continuing professional development systems, and develop strategies to advance CME’s contributions to health care improvement. You will leave ACCME 2017 with new insights and practical strategies that will further the role of CME as a transformative tool for your organization. 

For more information and to register for the meeting, visit the ACCME 2017 Meeting webpage. 

June 21-23, 2017 — Texas CME Conference
The annual three-day conference, attended by TMA-accredited and ACCME-accredited providers throughout Texas, establishes a practical forum for CME providers to share ideas and best practices to learn from one another and addresses accreditation requirements and issues, planning and management skills in CME, new items or hot topics in CME, and updates on the environment in which physicians practice medicine. 

The 2017 Texas CME Conference will be held at the Westin Houston, Memorial City, 945 Gessner Rd., Houston, TX 77024. 

Registration    

  • One registration included in the annual fee for TMA-accredited providers
  • $335 for additional registrants
  • $175 special rate for physicians attending Thursday only    

Room rates: $145 single or double, $160 triple, $175 quad, plus taxes — currently 17% 

Parking: 50-percent discount on self-parking rates (currently $14 overnight) 

Internet access: Complimentary in event space and in guest rooms for all guests registered in the group block. 

More information is available on the 2017 Texas CME Conference webpage.  

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Right at Your Fingertips: CME Resources

TMA website: sample forms, how to implement criteria, documents for reaccreditation, past TMA Accreditation Connection newsletters, and upcoming conference information

ACCME website: frequently asked questions, compendium of noncompliance, and compliance examples

AMA website: frequently asked questions relating to certifying activities for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)

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 New to CME 

  • Schedule a Fundamentals of CME session with TMA CME staff. Staff can teach on-site at your organization or ours. Email Casey Harrison for more information.
  • Sign up to receive THE ACCME Report, ACCME’s monthly e-newsletter.
  • Join TACME, a nonprofit Texas corporation created to promote quality CME in Texas. TACME provides opportunities for professional growth and development to all individual professionals and representatives of institutions and commercial companies involved with planning, implementing, and/or supporting CME in Texas.
  • Join the Alliance, which offers innovative interprofessional educational programs and services to thousands of CE/CME/CPD educators who use their knowledge, skills, and expertise to improve health outcomes. Members include professionals working in hospitals and health systems, academic medical centers, medical specialty societies, medical education communication companies, the government, and the pharmaceutical/medical device/biotech industries.
  • Attend the 2017 Texas CME Conference. The conference includes newcomer sessions on accreditation requirements, policies, processes and documentation of activities, and a mentor/mentee program.  

More information is available on the Professional Development webpage. 

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Back Issues

Last Updated On

February 09, 2021

Originally Published On

July 31, 2012