Guide to Creating a New CME Event

Designing and Implementing a Needs-Based CME Activity

A Resource Guide for Course Directors, Faculty and Department Staff

Seven Steps to Planning and Implementing a CME Activity:

Step 1:

Assessing the Need for an Eductional Intervention:

A CME activity should be developed from an identified professional practice gap and the underlying educational need to address and close the gap.  The activity may address one or more possible reasons for the existence of the gap, whether it is knowledge, competence or performance. Course Directors are challenged to create a CME activity that address and promote the physician core competencies. Those core competencies are:

•  Patient Care or Patient-Centered Care
•  Medical Knowledge                 
•  Practice-Based Learning
•  Interpersonal and Communication Skills
•  Professionalism
•  System-Based Practice  
•  Interdisciplinary Teams    
•  Quality Improvement                                                                             
•  Utilize Informatics

Step 2: 

Develop an Activity Plan: 

A. Appoint a planning committee
B. Identify specific educational needs
C. Articulate a statement of purpose
D. Develop objectives and content
E. Choose the best learning format(s)

Step 3: 

Complete the CME Activity Application and Planning Committee Form with Information from Steps 1 and 2.

The Course Director is responsible for completing the CME activity application and ensuring all planning committee disclosure forms are completed and returned to the CME office.  The speaker should be contacted and confirmed and all speaker documentation should be collected at this time.  Speaker Packet information includes but is not limited to:

• Speaker Agreement/Financial Disclosure
• W-9 Form
• Speaker CV
• Copy of the Speakers Presentation 

Step 4: 

Committee Review and Approval:

Once the CME office receives the activity application it will be forwarded to the CME Sub-Committee for review and approval.  The application should be submitted to the CME office a minimum of 8 weeks prior to the activity date.   

Step 5: 

Finalize all arrangements and on-site logistics:

The Course Coordinator should work with the CME office to ensure all marketing needs, room, A/V, food, speaker travel arrangements etc. are finalized and confirmed. 

Step 6:   

Have all documentation needed for the day of the activity: 

• Barcode sign in sheet
• Posting
• Video/enduring materials consent form for the speaker
• Activity Code

Step 7:

Post Activity Responsibilities: 

• Remind all participants to complete the online evaluation 
• Send all documentation to CME Office using Activity File Check List 
• CME office will send a summary of evaluation responses to the Course Coordinator and Course Director