New Jersey's coordinated CME system

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Administration
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• The need for a structured approach to continuing medical education (CME) was identified.
• Collaboration between professional associations and academic institutions was initiated to address this need.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a coordinated system for continuing medical education in New Jersey.
• To outline the clarification and delegation of key CME functions.

Main Methods:

• Six years of collaborative efforts between professional associations and academic institutions.
• Clarification and assignment of functions including institutional accreditation, program review, and educational development.
• State-level delegation of these identified functions.

Main Results:

• A coordinated system for continuing medical education was successfully developed in New Jersey.
• Accredited CME programs were established in more than 50% of New Jersey's community hospitals.
• Clearer roles for institutional accreditation, program review, and educational development were defined and assumed.

Conclusions:

• The collaborative development and state-level delegation of CME functions effectively expanded accredited educational opportunities for healthcare professionals.
• The New Jersey model demonstrates a successful framework for enhancing continuing medical education infrastructure.