Conditions for Certification of CME Physician Credit for Educational Activities

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BACKGROUND:

There are literally thousands of physicians in the community who serve as full-time or voluntary faculty to The George Washington University Medical Center. Many of those faculty members are involved in the development of educational activities for their respective non-profit professional societies or other for-profit entrepreneurial organizations. Frequently, the Office of CEHP is solicited by the faculty to certify those activities for CME credit by virtue of the faculty member's academic appointment at GW.

While the Office of CEHP is happy to forge productive working relationships with faculty to benefit the Medical Center, this policy is needed to identify opportunities that are appropriate and equitable to Medical Center departments and to faculty members. The policy ensures that: 1) a control mechanism exists for when and how the University's name is used relative to external educational activities, 2) no educational activity conveys CME certification through The George Washington University without the expressed knowledge and consent of the appropriate clinical department, 3) the Office of CEHP (and thereby the Medical Center), which incurs substantial costs in maintaining the accredited status of the University, is appropriately compensated for certification of CME credit, and 4) GW's status as an accredited provider of CME for physicians is not put in jeopardy.

POLICY:

The Office of CEHP may sponsor or joint-sponsor CME activities when
all of the following conditions exist:

1. A written agreement is fully executed with the GW Office of CEHP to address: 1) accurate financial reporting, 2) compliance with CME accreditation requirements, 3) compliance with University policies and practices, and 4) respective roles and responsibilities.
2. GW's Office of CEHP can document full compliance with the Essential Areas, Elements and Policies established by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.
3. The appropriate department chair and/or division director has reviewed and approved the proposed needs assessment, learning objectives, educational design, and content.
4. An appropriate GW faculty member serves as program chair or co-chair for the CME activity with full authority to determine or direct the content of the program.
5. The George Washington University Medical Center is identified as sponsor or joint-sponsor of the CME activity in a manner equal to the partnering organization in all promotional and program materials.
6. The Office of CEHP (and thereby the Medical Center) is fairly compensated for CME certification services based on a formula it develops. The formula should ensure external organizations do not bear less of a financial burden for CME certification than do internal departments.
7. A voluntary faculty member is not compensated by any source in an amount greater than would be yielded by our GW Faculty Incentive Policy for effort developing the CME activity, unless approved by the department chair.
8. Real or potential financial losses incurred by the CME activity must be covered by sources other than GW funds.

It is the discretion of the Associate Vice President for Educational Resources, in consultation with the Office of CEHP, to determine if these criteria are fulfilled.

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