June 16, 2017

The Accidental Professional

CME folks often say they are “accidental” CME professionals.  What they mean is that they accidently found their way into this fine profession, became committed to improving healthcare through education and made it their life work.  My own happy accident began over 15 years ago when I was hired by the Colorado Medical Society to manage the state-wide accreditation system.  I have a degree in Art History, had worked in sales and had spent the previous 10 years in the marketing of a medical practice.  I was not qualified for the accreditation position, but for some unknown reason, I landed the position.  I was very candid about my lack of knowledge and experience and quickly acquired mentors and training from the ACCME.  The decision-making accreditation committee at Colorado Medical Society generously reached out with a wealth of knowledge and experience.  Members of the committee, David Price, MD, Kevin Bunnell, EdD, Roy Stahlgren, MD, Jerry Ranier, MD, Jerry Applebaum, MD, Pat Moran, MD, Ted Lewis, MD and later, after his retirement from the AMA, Dennis Wentz, MD became my mentors.  How fortunate was I?  Kevin Bunnell spent many hours with me, talking and teaching the criteria, adult learning theory, instructional design, the history and evolution of the CME program in the US.  I went on every site survey for re-accreditation which amounted to nearly 100 site surveys in the seven years that I was with the Colorado Medical Society.  I drove to almost every hospital usually with the lead surveyor from the accreditation committee.  Those drives were my classroom.  With the big Western sky and the Rocky Mountains as my view and my travel companion, often a nationally recognized expert in the field of CME, as my guide, I learned about the profession that I would grow to love as my life work.

During my time at Colorado Medical Society, I regularly went to Chicago for training with the ACCME.  My mentor, Kevin Bunnell had been one of the authors of the original Standards for Commercial Support, so I was well versed in the detail and the intent of the standards.  The first SCS stood until 2004 when providers began transitioning to a new version of the SCS.  Providers were expected to be in full compliance with the new Standards for Commercial Support by 2006.  The staff at the accredited providers resisted, refused, complained, took one step toward change and two steps backward.  This was my first experience with change management.  David Price, MD coached me on theories of change and finding the early adopters who would lead the change.  This was an object lesson in knowledge, competence and performance. It was not enough that the providers know, recite, quote, recall the exact standard.  Knowledge needed to lead to improved professional competence in implementing the standards and finally the staff needed to demonstrate by 2006 that the SCS were fully integrated in the CME program of that hospital.  Today, the requirements are demonstrated knowledge, competence and performance change.

Of course, during this time not only did the SCS change, but the ACCME accreditation system, sometimes called system 98, was also retired and replaced by new criteria.  It was becoming clear that the duties of the staff at accredited providers had become increasingly complex and required specific professional competencies to ensure the success and continued accreditation of the organization.  Almost all professions have some certification process to demonstrate that the individual has achieved a level of professional competence.  The time was ripe to launch a national certification exam.  The first candidates were certified in 2007.  I was certified with the second cohort in 2008. In 2009, I was asked to sit on the test item writing committee.  What a great experience!  I was cloistered in a room for four days with some of the top people in the profession of CME – Karen Overstreet, EdD, PharmD, Jack Kues, PhD, Scott Hershman, MD, Judy Ribble, PhD, Marilyn Peterson – working through the test item questions for each of the five domains of the exam.  This was one of my most memorable experiences in my development as a professional.

In 2007, I accepted the position of Manager of Continuing Education and Medical Libraries at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.  I learned a lot about hospital CME, RSS and medical libraries during my eight years with Children’s healthcare.  When I joined Elsevier Office of CME in 2015 I worked toward getting the organization ACCME Accreditation with Commendation. I also completed the ACPE application to get Elsevier approved as a provider of education for pharmacists.  Additionally, I learned about the credit systems of Canada and Europe.

As you can see, I think it is important for people to “tell their story”.

Every journey is unique.  When thinking about writing your self-study, think about it as “telling your story”.  Write about the unique journey of your CME program, your triumphs and challenges, successes, implementation of changes and future plans.  Yes, you are going to demonstrate and write about compliance with the criteria, but do it in your own voice and feature your unique program as an example.

Now I have started a CME business.  Together, with my business partner, we are expert writers,  problem solvers and data gurus. We bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to your CME needs.   Let us help you to tell the story of your CME program.  For example, we can assist you in developing a timeline for project management, organizing the material to be covered, summarizing and evaluating data, writing the self-study and coaching you on the site survey expectations.  If this is your first experience with the process of reaccreditation, let us provide guidance to ensure your success.

–Anne Symons, CHCP