The CME planning process generally follows the classic Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model for improvement.
The Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle is a simple yet powerful tool for accelerating improvement by developing a plan to test the change (Plan), carrying out the test (Do), observing and learning from the consequences (Study), and determining what modifications should be made to the test (Act).
Basically, the planning committee is asking: What are we trying to accomplish? How will we know that a change is an improvement? What changes can we make that will result in improvement?
If planning an annual event or a series of learning interventions, this model can be quite useful for measuring change, particularly in physician performance or patient outcomes.
More information on Plan-Do-Study-Act in health care is available through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and PubMed.
Getting Started
The Application and Planning Worksheet is the primary starting point for planning an accredited continuing education activity. To get started, please submit an online application. All submitted applications will be charged a non-refundable $100 review fee. Additional information can be found in Forms and Policies.
Planners should submit applications at least three months (90 days) in advance to begin the accreditation process. After the application is approved, a Compliance and Educational Activity Coordinator will be assigned to your activity. The coordinator will schedule a face-to-face or Zoom meeting to review accreditation compliance needs and CME services.
*Please note - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all continuing education events are strongly encouraged and preferred to be held virtually. Events with 50 or more people in attendance should be moved to a virtual format, or canceled/postponed to a later date (per IU School of Medicine guidance 9/10/2021). In-person events should have 49 or less people in attendance. For these in-person events, no food or beverages are allowed (or anything that requires the removal of a mask), although it is allowable to provide to-go boxes of food for attendees to take with them. It is strongly advised that smaller group meetings avoid having food/beverages so attendees can remain masked throughout the event. This is based on IU and CDC guidelines and recommendations for in-person gatherings.