CORE ELEMENTS

The following elements are consistently incorporated into the CPE offerings:

• Evidence based science - CPE activities are based on the latest scientific evidence.
• Networking - CPE activities provide an opportunity for participants to interact with peers and faculty.
• Knowledge processing from academic to clinical application - scientific practices are translated to clinical practices.
• Opportunities for all knowledge levels of participants - CPE is delivered in an environment that encourages all levels of healthcare professionals to become lifelong learners and contributors to their profession.
• Business and practice development skills-CPE activities offer practical information to build and maintain an effective medical practice.
• Patient safety considerations-ICPME dedicates resources annually to patient safety topics and CPE activities include patient safety issues where appropriate.

GOALS

The CPE goals of ICPME are to:

• Expand CPE offerings to include residents and fellows.
• Increase the number of follow-up outcomes assessments conducted to better understand the educational effectiveness of the CPE program.
• Research and develop an appropriate approach to support physicians in their maintenance of competence.
• Continue to develop interactive self-study enduring materials that engage participants in their own learning.
• Develop an effective and consistent process to annually evaluate the CPE program.
• Educate and support industry partners regarding CPE compliance issues.

CONTENT

The content of the activities sponsored by ICPME includes cardiology, neurology, oncology, radiology, and urology. It also includes other specialty and subspecialty topics in healthcare as determined through needs assessment. ICPME works closely with internationally recognized experts to develop content for program activities.

TARGET AUDIENCE

The target audience for ICPME educational activities is both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. The target audience includes healthcare professionals who diagnose, treat, and manage patients and patient safety, as determined by the needs assessment process.

Primary Target Audience

• Physicians - specialists, subspecialists, and primary care physicians including: cardiology, neurology, oncology, radiology, and urology
• Radiologic technologists

Secondary Target Audience

• Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Hospital administrators
• Health system decision makers
• Directors of quality initiatives
• Allied health professionals

TYPES OF ACTIVITIES

All activities emphasize interactive techniques that promote the exchange of knowledge and skills leading to behavior change by physicians and healthcare professionals. The ICPME CPE program includes a variety of educational activities:

• Live activities
• Self-study and other enduring materials
• Internet and web-based activities
• Journal-based activities
• Directly-sponsored and jointly-sponsored activities with other ACCME-accredited and non-accredited educational organizations

MEASUREMENT OF RESULTS

ICPME encourages the continuing professional development of physicians and other healthcare professionals by offering an array of activities to assist the learner in expanding his or her knowledge, implementing new treatments, or validating current clinical practice. ICPME is committed to assessing the impact and effectiveness of its CPE program through qualitative and quantitative methods. Assessment tools for each activity are determined by needs assessment, learning objectives, educational format, and available resources.

ICPME uses the following evidence to measure the effectiveness of individual activities and the overall CPE program:

• The activity supports the ICPME CPE mission.
• The majority of ICPME activities include a multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary target audience.
• Overall program meets or exceeds participation goals identified in the grant request process.
• Educational objectives are consistently met as measured by postactivity evaluation and outcomes assessment.
• Activities are rated fair and balanced in excess of 95% of responses as measured by postactivity evaluation.
• Participants validate that their current medical practice is appropriate and in the best interest of their patients as measured by outcomes assessment.
• Knowledge was transmitted and adopted by participants into their practice as measured by outcomes assessment where appropriate.

APPROVED:

CME Committee, March 28, 2006
ICPME Executive Committee, July 20, 2006