Re-accreditation

97-03-B Re-accreditation Procedures

In order to continue as an accredited provider of CME, an accredited institution/organization is required to complete an Application for Accreditation and undergo a site visit prior to the end of the period for which accreditation was awarded. The accredited provider is notified by letter and provided with an Application for Accreditation six (6) months prior to its due date. Submission of the application by the established deadline is necessary for continued accreditation.

Request for Extension of Resurvey (97-03-E)

If extenuating circumstances prevent an institution/organization from submitting an Application of Accreditation for resurvey by the designated deadline, the institution/organization may request with reasons therein to the OSMA Focused Task Force on Accreditation. Requests for extension must be received by the task force prior to the original deadline for resurvey.

The OSMA staff may, following consultation with the chair of the Focused Task Force on Accreditation, grant the institution/organization an extension of its current accreditation subject to the following stipulations:

• The extension shall not exceed six (6) months (if an extension of more than six months is requested, the request must be placed on the agenda for consideration by the entire Focused Task Force on Accreditation);
• The time the program’s accreditation is extended will be subtracted from the duration of the next accreditation award; and
• During the period of extension, the program’s prior accreditation remains in effect until the task force’s subsequent accreditation action.

(ACCME 97-B-16)

Failure to Respond to the Notification for Resurvey (97-03-F)

If an Application of Accreditation or a request for an extension of accreditation has not been received by the established deadline, a certified letter will be directed to the provider’s CME chair, Director of Medical Education and/or chief executive officer, allowing a 60-day extension of the accreditation and asking for a timely submission of the overdue application. Failure to respond to this communication will result in termination of the program’s CME accreditation at the end of the 60-day extension. Notification of expiration will be sent via certified mail.

Re-accreditation Survey Unscheduled (99-08-O)

The OSMA may re-evaluate an institution/organization at any time less than the period specified for resurvey if information is received from the institution/organization itself, or from other sources, which indicated it has undergone substantial changes and/or may no longer be in compliance with the Essential Areas, Elements & Policies.

(ACCME 81-D-03)
(See also OSMA General Program Updates 97-06-A)

Observation of an Activity in Progress (00-07-B)

Initial Applicant

As part of the initial application process, a provider seeking accreditation must have a portion of the continuing medical education activity reviewed by the on-site survey team.

Reaccreditation Applicant

As part of the resurvey for CME accreditation, it will be necessary for the survey team to view a portion of the educational activity when a provider has the following accreditation status: non-accreditation, probationary accreditation or full accreditation of two (2) or three (3) years.

It will be optional to have the survey team view an educational activity when a provider has the following accreditation status: full accreditation of four (4) or six (6) years. The chair of the survey team and/or the Focused Task Force on Accreditation may request that a provider schedule the on-site survey with review of an educational activity at their discretion.