What Anesthesiologists Need for CME
Anesthesiology is a dynamic and rapidly evolving field that demands constant adaptation to advancements in medical knowledge, technology, and patient care. Staying abreast of emerging trends ensures that practitioners can integrate the most current evidence-based practices into their clinical work. To this end, continuing medical education (CME) plays a critical role in ensuring anesthesiologists stay at the forefront of their profession. Today in the United States, the majority of states require physicians to obtain and verify completion of CME.
Fortunately, the financial responsibility of obtaining CME is often entirely or partially assumed by a physician’s employer, whether a hospital, foundation or group. Those who pay out of pocket often designate this activity as a business expense, and the cost becomes tax-deductible. Society membership frequently entitles members to reduced tuition. However, physicians may still have to payfor travel costs, such as when attending conferences or lectures 1.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) itself is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide to clinicians a platform for continuing medical education 2. To this end the American Society of Anesthesiologists lays forth a well-defined set of guidelines to guide anesthesiologists in their acquisition of required CME credits. Approved postgraduate educational experience may include both American Medical Association (AMA) physician’s recognition award (PRA) Category 1 and 2 credits. At least half of the credits applied toward the AMA PRA award must be within the physician’s specialty or area of practice. Clinicians must note that while physician-patient communication, ethics, and office management are appropriate topics for CME credits, they are not considered specialty specific education 3.
A wide variety of postgraduate CME activities are available with different formats in varied locations for every medical specialty, including anesthesiology. The highest profile CME activities for anesthesiologists include multiday conferences held by professional societies, such as the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS). These offer a wide variety of learning options. There are also many annual state society meetings, including New York’s and California’s. Large city and county societies also frequently offer similar activities on a smaller scale 1.
While traditional lecture-style CME programs have their place, anesthesiologists in this day and age benefit from interactive and engaging learning, especially when the topic is a new skill. Online modules, case-based discussions, and hands-on workshops encourage active participation and knowledge retention. The American Board of Anesthesiology provides a portal for clinicians to obtain their CME credits. Specifically, physicians can use the “CME Explorer” tool to find relevant learning activities. Completed activities found in the CME Explorer are submitted directly to the American Board of Anesthesiology and are not subject to audit. For example, over 800 Category 1 CME activities are searchable and link directly to the CME provider’s site. In addition, 108 CME providers across the country have made contributions to the online catalog of courses 4.
References
1. Tetzlaff, J. E., Schoenwald, P., Jackman#, D. & Smith#, J. Continuing Medical Education and The Anesthesiologist. J. Educ. Perioper. Med. JEPM 1, E003 (1999).
2. CME Information and Accreditation. Available at: https://www.asahq.org/annualmeeting/education/accreditation. (Accessed: 30th January 2024)
3. Statement on Minimally Acceptable Continuing Medical Education in Anesthesiology. Available at: https://www.asahq.org/standards-and-practice-parameters/statement-on-minimally-acceptable-continuing-medical-education-in-anesthesiology. (Accessed: 30th January 2024)
4. CME – The American Board of Anesthesiology. Available at: https://www.theaba.org/maintain-certification/cme/. (Accessed: 30th January 2024)