The medical field is constantly changing and evolving with new technologies, practices, and innovations. Therefore, a nurse or health care specialist’s education doesn’t end once a degree is obtained. Instead, all medical professionals need to continue their education throughout their career in order to provide the highest possible level of patient care, advance one’s career, maintain membership in professional organizations, and more.
Becoming a physician, nurse or other health care specialist requires years of nonstop education. Instead, all medical professionals need to continue their education throughout their career in order to provide the highest possible level of patient care, advance one’s career, maintain membership in professional organizations, and more. In other word, learning continues by way of continued medical education, or CME.
CME is crucial to the prosperity of health care providers—it allows a practitioner to learn and discover viable ways to improve on the patient care they deliver and effectively manage a career in the ever-changing landscape of the medical industry. The requirements or acceptable level of CME vary across medical disciplines, but they are equally important no matter the specialty or scope of practice in which a provider is engaged.
The values of continuing medical education to health care providers are:
Refine skills to improve overall patient care
Stay current with the latest developments within their specialty
Address real-world challenges that health care professionals face day to day
Gain professional growth and a means to advance career status
Meet licensing/certification requirements
Learn effective medical team management skills
Earn membership in professional organizations
There are many continuing medical education program choices available. In order for a CME program to be viable in meeting licensing and credentialing requirements, the program must be accredited.
As the international premier accreditation organization for continuing medical education & professional development, the American Association of Continuing Medical Education® accredits over 16,000 CME providers that offer continuing medical education activities and courses in over 62 countries. This includes NGO’s as well as government agencies.
The American Association of Continuing Medical Education® is committed to ensuring that medical practitioners have access to unbiased quality learning and a solid means to obtain and maintain their licensing and credentialing requirements.
Our accreditation ensures that a CME programs meet rigorous and high standards of relevance, effectiveness and independence for today’s medical practitioners.
CME for Improved Patient Care
Not a day goes by that a new medical study isn’t published or advancements are made in the industry. These findings and innovations impact how patients with certain medical conditions should be assessed, treated, and cared for. As a result, medical professionals have a responsibility to their patients to continue their education and stay on top of these changes. Only by doing so can they confidently provide patients with the level of care they deserve.
CME for Career Advancement
Furthermore, CME is vital for healthcare professionals who want to be able to advance their careers. Staying on top of one’s education and changes in the industry demonstrates a proactive personality–a trait that many employers take note of and see in an extremely positive light.
Further to gaining professional growth, clinicians who continue their education are better able to manage medical teams and address/overcome challenges seen on a day-to-day basis within the workplace.
CME for Maintaining of License/Certification
Many professional medical education and healthcare organizations require their members to continue their medical education in order to maintain their membership status. These organizations often sponsor CME events and have members submit proof of the events they’ve attended or other proof of continued education. And, as any medical professional knows, maintaining membership in these organizations is extremely important.
Continuing medical education may also be a requirement for certain healthcare certifications and licensure. Most regulatory bodies around the world require physicians and allied health professionals to complete a certain number of continuing education credits each year, as a requirement to maintain their license.
