CME Home

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Accreditation

The Office of Continuing Medical Education at the Feinberg School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).  The organization's accreditation status is Accreditation with Commendation through March 31, 2017. 

Mission Statement

Purpose

The Office of Continuing Medical Education (OCME) at the Feinberg School of Medicine (FSM) is the accredited Provider for the McGaw Hospitals.  The OCME’s goal is to improve physician knowledge, competency, and enhance performance in practice by providing activities on cutting-edge research and technological advancements to our target audience.  We strive to objectively present up-to-date, clinically relevant, scientifically rigorous, evidence-based medical information in order to promote excellence in medical care and patient safety.

The Office of CME’s purpose is to facilitate the development, implementation, and evaluation of education activities and ensure FSM activities comply with the Essentials and Standards of the ACCME.

Content Areas

The scope of the content areas of the CME Program at FSM is comprehensive.  The majority of activities focus on clinical updates and latest research across all therapeutic areas.  All content is expected to be based on the best evidence currently available from basic medical science, clinical medicine, or public health fields and to be free of commercial interest and bias.  The content areas of the CME activities include (but are not limited to) primary care, cardiovascular, rehabilitation, pediatrics, specialty and sub-specialty topics in all fields of medicine.  Activities will emphasize desirable physician attributes as identified by ACGME/ABMS and IOM core competencies.

Target Audience

The OCME develops the FSM’s CME activities for physicians and other healthcare professionals across the full range of local, regional, national and international medical specialties and subspecialties.  There are two focuses of the FSM’s CME Program; 1) activities designated for FSM-affiliated health care professionals which consist of more than 70% of credits issued by FSM and 2) activities designated for non-FSM health care professionals which consist of the remaining 30% of credits issued. 

Types of Activities

Various types of educational activities including, but are not limited to:

• Local, regional, national and international symposia
• Laboratory conferences using simulated body forms, specimens and/or medical equipment
• Regularly schedules series such as grand rounds, journal clubs and M&M conferences
• Teleconferences
• Distance learning activities online and print
• Joint- and co-sponsored activities with nonprofit organizations

Expected Results

A critical element of the FSM CME Program is a systematic assessment of the outcomes of educational activities and the overall program.  As a result of their participation in FSM CME Program, learner will demonstrate changes in competence and/or improvement in performance.  The metrics for determination of success include the following:

Participants are asked to reflect on what they have learned and answer the following questions:

1. If they obtained new information (knowledge) as a result of attending the activity.
2. If the activity will impact their competency (skills/abilities/strategies) and if so, identify how.
3. If the activity will impact their performance (implementing the new skills/abilities/strategies) and if so, identify how.
4. To identify any barriers that might prevent them from implementing the changes in competency and/or performance.
5. If the skills/abilities/strategies they obtained at the activity will affect their patient’s outcomes.

The medical school's accreditation is extended to the Feinberg School of Medicine's affiliates.  Click here to for a list affiliates and contact information.