Continuing Medical Education (CME)

New! Continuing Education Information for Providers and Licensees

• Continuing Education Providers/Courses

• How to Become a Continuing Education Provider

Continuing Medical Education (CME) is required for initial licensure and renewal. The chart below describes these requirements. CME coursework for licensees renewing by January 31, 2009 must have been completed between February 1, 2007 and January 31, 2009. Licensees should not submit CME documentation unless audited. Physicians and/or spouses in the military are exempt from the CME requirements.

All CME must be AMA approved category I, except for Domestic Violence and Prevention of Medical Errors. Domestic Violence and Prevention of Medical Errors courses offered by any State or Federal Government Agency or professional association including any provider of category I or II AMA continuing medical education will be acceptable.

FREE CMEs/CEs FOR FLORIDA PHYSICIANS, NURSES, AND DIETICIANS.
The Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in collaboration with St. Petersburg College is offering unique on-demand provider education modules that address prevention, treatment and control of:
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Heart Disease and Stroke
• Obesity
Any physician, nurse, or dietician in Florida can log on to www.OnlineCE.net, click on DOH, and access the online registration. You can complete each module as your schedule permits. This program is offered at no charge for Florida providers while funding lasts. Modules may be accessed at no fee for those not seeking CME/CE credits. Non-Florida providers who want CME/CE credits will be charged a nominal fee per CME/CE hour.

This CME information is current for the renewal period ending 1/31/09.

CME Courses: Preventing Medical Errors

You must complete an approved Medical Errors course if you are renewing your license. Not all Risk Management or Ethics courses meet the Medical Errors criteria required to renew your Florida medical license. How can you be sure that a course does? Make sure that the course you take includes the following information;

• A study of root cause analysis
• Error reduction, prevention, and patient safety
• The five most misdiagnosed conditions during the previous biennium
1. Cancer
2. Cardiac
3. Acute abdomen
4. Timely diagnosis of surgical complications
5. Stroke and related cranial conditions

The two-hour Medical Errors course must be approved by state or federal government agency, any national affiliated professional association, or any provider of category I or II American Medical Association CME.

One hour of a two hour course which is provided by a facility licensed pursuant to Chapter 395, F.S., for its employees may be used to partially meet this requirement.

The continuing medical education (CME) requirement is listed on the Board of Medicine web site at; http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/medical/me_ceu.html

NOTE: End-of-Life Care and Palliative Care can no longer be completed in lieu of HIV/AIDS or Domestic Violence courses.

NOTE: The following courses are approved by the Board:

1. Organized courses approved for American Medical Association Category I Continuing Medical Education credits are accepted for the American Medical Association physician recognition award.
2. Any postgraduate training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
3. The following specialty training: American College of Emergency Physicians, Category I; American Academy of Family Physicians prescribed credit; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists cognates; and study courses required by those specialty certification boards approved by the Board for the purpose of sitting for specialty recertification examinations.

Effective April 5, 2005: In addition to the CME courses listed above, up to 5 credit hours per biennium may be fulfilled by performing pro bono medical services for entities under the Department of Health, Volunteer Health Care provider programs, in an area of critical need and in Community and Migrant Health Care Centers.

You may obtain 5 hours CME in risk management by attending a full day of disciplinary hearings at a Board of Medicine Meeting. Although Board Meetings are Fridays and Saturdays, the disciplinary hearings are scheduled on Friday's only. View the list of scheduled Board Meetings. The meetings begin at 8:00 a.m. Upon arrival at the meeting, be sure to sign in with staff. You will be required to sign in again upon your return from lunch. Expect to be in attendance until 5:30 p.m. You will be sent a certificate for your attendance the week following the meeting.

Continuing Medical Education Providers/Courses

AMA category 1 CME credit providers are either accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education or intra-state by the Florida Medical Association. To obtain more information on courses available or becoming a CME Provider, please contact these organizations directly: Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education 515 North State St., Ste. 2150 Chicago, IL 60610-4377 (312) 755-7401 FAX (312) 755-7496 www.accme.org Florida Medical Association 123 Adams St Tallahassee, FL 32301 (800) 762-0233 www.fmaonline.org

How To Become a Continuing Medical Education Provider

All CMEs must be American Medical Association (AMA) approved category I, except for Domestic Violence. Domestic Violence can be offered by any State or Federal Government Agency or professional association including any provider of category I or II AMA continuing medical education. If you wish to become a CME provider for physicians, you must contact the AMA for information at: American Medical Association 515 North State St Chicago, IL 60610 (312) 464-4671 FAX (312) 464-5830 www.ama-assn.org