Enduring Materials

Distribution of Certified Enduring Materials (00-03-F)

The Standards for Commercial Support and the Standards for Enduring Materials do not prohibit distribution of certified enduring materials by commercial representatives directly to physicians. However, the accredited provider must maintain its responsibility for the quality, content, and use of the enduring material in compliance with the Essential Areas, Elements, and Policies.

(ACCME 94-A-09)

Commercial Acknowledgment in Enduring Materials (00-03-J)

1. Product specific advertising of any type is prohibited in enduring materials.
2. Commercial support must be acknowledged in order to comply with the Standards for Commercial Support and references to a company or institution are allowed.
3. This acknowledgment must be placed only at the beginning of the enduring materials.
4. The institutional acknowledgment may state the name, mission, and areas of clinical involvement of the company or institution and may include corporate logos and slogans, if they are not product promotional in nature.
5. No specific products may be referenced, even if they are not related to the topic of the enduring material.

(ACCME 95-B-02)

Enduring Materials (00-03-L)

In addition to all applicable OSMA requirements, providers of enduring materials must communicate the following information to participants so that they are aware of this information prior to starting the educational activity:

1. Principal faculty and their credentials
2. Medium or combination of medium used
3. Method of physician participation in learning process
4. Estimated time to complete the educational activity (same as number of designated credit hours)
5. Dates of original release and must recent review or update

(ACCME 98-B-07)

Review of Enduring Material (02-10-B)

Accredited providers are required to review their enduring materials at least once every three (3) years, or more frequently if indicated by new scientific developments.

(ACCME 02-A-03)

Standards for Enduring Materials (00-12-B)

Preamble:

The following Standards are intended to assist providers to comply with the OSMA Essential Areas, Elements and Policies for Accreditation of Providers of Continuing Medical Education as they pertain to enduring CME materials. The OSMA defines continuing medical education as follows: Continuing Medical Education 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.

Definition:

CME Enduring Materials are printed, recorded, or computer-assisted instructional materials which may be used over time at various locations, and which, in themselves, constitute a planned activity of continuing medical education. Examples of such materials include: programmed texts, audiotapes, videotapes, and computer-assisted instructional materials which are used alone or in combination with written materials for independent learning by physicians. Not included are reference materials, such as books, journals or manuals.

Standards:

1. Design and use of enduring materials must be consistent with the provider's overall CME Mission Statement and must be described as within the scope of the provider's CME efforts.
2. Enduring materials must be based upon identified CME needs of given target groups of physicians.
3. The provider must develop explicit objectives for each enduring materials and communicate these objectives to prospective participants.
4. The medium, or combination of media, chosen by the provider must be consistent in content and method with the stated objectives. The overall length of the recorded materials and estimated study time for completing the activity should be specified.
   A statement should be displayed that the CME activity was planned and produced in accordance with the OSMA Essential Areas, Elements and Policies.
5. Every provider must evaluate each unit of enduring material at least once every three years, or more frequently, if indicated by new scientific developments. The provider must demonstrate that findings from the evaluation process are used to revise, update or plan future versions of the enduring materials.
   The date of original release must be prominently displayed in arabic numerals after the title, along with the most recent date of review and revision or approval, if applicable.
6. Providers of enduring materials must have a mechanism to record, and when authorized by the participating physician, to verify participation.
7. In instances of joint sponsorship, an accredited provider must assume ongoing responsibility for the planning, proper use, and evaluation of the CME activity. Planning includes identification of the target physician-learners, the educational needs to be addressed, the appropriate objectives, educational content, quality, selection of media and faculty. Proper use includes marketing, use includes marketing, distribution, and establishing the conditions for effective participation.
   
   Providers of enduring materials should communicate the following information to prospective participants:
   • target audience of physician learners
   • needs addressed and specific learning objectives/purpose
   • topics and educational content
   • principal faculty and their credentials
   • medium or combination of media used
   • method of physician participation in the learning process
   • estimated time to complete the educational activity
   • date of original release
   • date of most recent review and update or approval
   • evaluation methods