Administrator Support

The ACCME Standard

ACCME's criteria #3 and #11 specifically address evaluation. These criteria require that:

Criterion #3:The provider (that's us in CME) generates activities/educational interventions that are designed to change competence, performance, or patient outcomes as described in its mission statement

Criterion #11:The provider analyzes changes in learners (competence, performance, or patient outcomes) achieved as a result of the overall program’s activities/educational interventions.

So, it's important that CME take an active role in design, structure, development, and evaluation of education activities. We're always interested in partnering with you to make sure that your education efforts are effective in addressing the needs of your constituents, and that the content provides them with information that helps close a recognized practice gap.

Given that it's mandated, evaluation is mostly viewed as a compliance activity rather than one that fosters continuous improvement - that's a pity. Used thoughtfully, frequent evaluation can tell us how participants perceive the value of an activity, what their learning experience is like, and what additional needs they have. It can also be used as an engagement tool to facilitate a more active role for learners in the education process.