Continuing Medical Education

Continuing Pharmacy Education

Working with the Office of Continuing Professional Development

1. What is continuing medical education?

Continuing medical education (CME) consists of educational activities that serve to maintain, develop or increase the knowledge, skills and professional performance and relationships that a physician uses to provide services to patients, the public or the profession. The content of CME is that body of knowledge and skills generally recognized and accepted by the profession as within the basic medical sciences, the discipline of clinical medicine and the provision of health care to the public.

2. Why is CME Important?

Quality CME can enhance a physician's knowledge base and practice skills. CME credit is mandatory in many states, including Ohio, for medical relicensure. Hospitals, health care organizations and third-party payers also increasingly use CME participation as part of the credentialing and reappointment process.

3. What are the Essentials in CME (as defined by the ACCME)?

The Essentials are the criteria, or standards, by which NEOUCOM (the accredited sponsor) and its CME program are evaluated in order to determine qualification for accreditation. Please refer to the ACCME web page for more information.

4. What are the CME Requirements in the State of Ohio?

Ohio physicians are relicensed on a staggered renewal bases. Applications for license renewal are mailed to and must be returned to the Ohio State Medical Board. Physicians are asked to certify on their application that they have completed the appropriate number of Continuing Medical Education credit hours. Please refer to the State Medical Board of Ohio for exact requirements.

5. What is continuing pharmacy education?

6. What are the continuing pharmacy education requirements in the State of Ohio?

7. Is NEOUCOM an accredited provider of continuing education?

Yes. The Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to provide continuing education for physicians and pharmacists.

8. When do I contact the Office of CPD?

The NEOUCOM Office of CPD must be contacted at the beginning of course planning. Any activity planned without the knowledge or involvement of the CPD office cannot be accredited by NEOUCOM.

9. How do I contact the Office of CPD?

Call us at 330-325-6575 (local) or 1-877-325-1212 (toll free) or send us an e-mail at CE@neoucom.edu. Our fax number is 1-330-325-5929.

10. What is a Joint Sponsor or Cosponsor?

A Joint Sponsor (in CME) or Cosponsor (in pharmacy education) is any non-accredited, non-profit agency, organization or department deemed appropriate by the Office of CPD to be a partner in planning an activity. A sponsor must agree to comply with all guidelines provided by the Office of CPD for the planning and implementation of any CPD activity.

11. Do I need to complete an application to receive CE credit?

Yes. A complete application for CE credit must be filed for all prospective CE activities, together with an application fee, which will be determined by the Director of CPD. Applications are reviewed by the CE Advisory Committee . New joint or co-sponsors are required to complete a training session with a member of the Office of CPD prior to submitting an application.

12. Does my application need to be approved?

All CE applications are formally reviewed and approved/disapproved by the CE Advisory Committee. The Committee meets twice per year and does the majority of its approvals via email.

13. Can I advertise CE credit for my program prior to approval of my application?

No. You may not make any mention of credit in any promotional piece unless the activity has already been approved for credit. You may, however, advertise your activity in advance of approval if you do not mention CE credit.

The AMA, ACCME and ACPE require that the final announcement for any CE activity must clearly advertise the CE credit and include the required ACCME or ACPE statements.

14. Does a CPD staff member need to attend the course?

The Office of CPD requires that a member of its staff or designee be present at any sponsored off-site CPD activity. The joint/co-sponsor will assume responsibility for expenses incurred for having a CPD Office representative present at the activity.

15. How much does it cost to obtain CE credit?

Please call the office of CPD at 330-325-6575 for more information

16. Can continuing education credit approval be reversed?

Yes. The Office of CPD reserves the right to deny CE credit to an activity at any stage of the program planning and implementation process. Any activity that does not have complete and accurate documentation to the NEOUCOM Office of CPD three (3) months after the course has ended will be denied CE certification.

17. What is "disclosure" all about?

By requiring each and every speaker and planner to disclose their relevant financial interests in any commercial interest it enables us to identify and resolve potential conflicts of interest prior to the activity. All disclosures must also be communicated to your participants.

18. Can I solicit funding from outside sources?

You may solicit educational grants from any donor. All grants must be paid directly to the Joint/Cosponsor. No speakers are to be paid or reimbursed for expenses directly by a donor/commercial supporter. Every donor/commercial supporter must complete a Commercial Support Agreement form . You and the Director of the office of CPD must sign the Commerical Support Agreement form.  A copy of the Commercial Support Agreement form must be provided to the office of CPD prior to your program.