About Anesthesia & Analgesia CME
Program Objectives
The journal CME is designed to address the continuing medical education needs of anesthesiologists, anesthesiologists in training, anesthesia researchers, and allied health personnel who conduct research or practice or intend to practice in any area of general anesthesia, subspecialty anesthesia, or pain management. As a result of participation in the journal CME activities, learners will have increased knowledge of the latest advances in anesthesiology practice and their applications as well as recognize gaps in their knowledge that may result in a need for additional education and training.
ParticipantsThis program is designed for physicians who are involved in providing patient care and who wish to advance their current knowledge of clinical medicine.
CreditsThe International Anesthesia Research Society designates each Journal-Based CME activity (article) for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
AccreditationThe IARS is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
CME Editor
Every month, one or more articles in Anesthesia & Analgesia will be selected for the CME program by our CME Editor, Dr. Jeffrey Gross.
What is Continuing Medical Education (CME)?
The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) www.accme.org/faq/faq_cme.asp has published the following:
Definition of CME
1982-B-03 The Definition of Continuing Medical Education
Continuing Medical Education (CME) consists of educational activities which serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, and professional performance and relationships that a physician uses to provide services for 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.
The broad definition of CME, such as the one found above, recognizes that all continuing educational activities, which assist physicians in carrying out their professional responsibilities more effectively and efficiently, are CME. A course in management would be appropriate CME for physicians responsible for managing a health care facility; a course in educational methodology would be appropriate CME for physicians teaching in a medical school; a course in practice management would be appropriate for practitioners interested in providing better service to patients.
Not all continuing educational activities in which physicians may engage, however, are CME. Physicians may participate in worthwhile continuing educational activities, which are not related directly to their professional work, but these activities are not CME. Continuing educational activities, which respond to a physician's non-professional need or interest, such as personal financial planning, and appreciation of literature or music, are not CME. (amended 11/99)
How are CME hours calculated?
CME is designated on an hour-for-hour basis, i.e., for every hour you spend in a CME activity, you receive one (1) hour of CME credit.
Since people complete self-study activities (e.g., journal-based CME, self-tests, computer-based activities, video or audio tapes, etc.) at their own pace, calculating CME hours can create a dilemma for the activity's sponsor. The sponsor of an enduring material usually estimates the time the average physician would take to complete the activity. This estimate becomes the designated maximum amount of CME credit for the activity. The individual physician is required to keep track of the time spent on the activity, and claim only the number of hours he or she actually spent on the activity.
