Incentivizing Higher Level Outcome Achievement in Continuing Education: Five-Year Experience from the ACCME Commendation Criteria

Journal of European CME (11/11/22) McMahon, Graham T.

Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) President Graham T. McMahon, MD, MMSc, summarizes the five-year outcomes of ACCME's Menu of Criteria for Commendation among accredited CME providers. He explains the menu was designed "to incentivize organizations to advance their educational strategy and recognize organizations that excel as continuing medical education providers." The Accreditation Review Committee (ARC) and ACCME staff reviewed the accreditation status of 1,053 organizations from November 2017 to March 2022. Twelve percent of organizations representing all provider types have applied for Accreditation with Commendation via the Menu, and 40% of applicants obtained commendation status. In terms of outcomes criteria, 62% of organizations applied for commendation for improving performance, 48% for improving healthcare quality, and 31% for improving patient/community health. Overall, 78%, 68%, and 66% of the organizations were determined as having successively met those respective criteria. "This data demonstrates that [continuing professional development] providers can drive and facilitate meaningful change in their learners, their organization and in their communities," McMahon concludes.

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