“More clearly than any other, the physician should illustrate the truth of Plato’s saying that education is a lifelong process.” - Sir William Osler
The process of lifelong learning that Dr. Osler refers to is the foundation of continuing medical education (CME). It is the means that physicians use to improve their competence and performance and improve their patient outcomes. It is the essence of Continuing Professional Development.
MedChi is committed to CME that is evidence-based, clinically relevant to all learners, valid in content, transparent and free of bias or commercial influence, and grounded in the principles of adult learning.
The MedChi Department of Continuing Professional Development (DCPD) complements MedChi's mission to serve as Maryland's foremost advocate and resource for physicians, their patients, and the public health through its work in two areas: the development, planning, design, and implementation of educational activities that strive to meet the needs of physicians and through a recognized system of accreditation for intrastate organizations that wish to provide accredited continuing medical education activities. MedChi provides accreditation review, maintenance of certification, and educational support to providers in the system.
Since 1981, the MedChi DCPD has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide accredited CME for physicians. Currently, MedChi holds the accreditation status with the ACCME of Accreditation with Commendation, the highest level of accreditation a provider can achieve. Prior to the ACCME, MedChi was accredited through the LCCME. MedChi’s CME activities for physicians are planned and supervised by the Committee on Scientific Activities (COSA). MedChi’s ACCME Provider Number is 3002519.
Through MedChi’s national accreditation with the ACCME, MedChi provides over 40 accredited CME activities per year, either directly or jointly sponsored, serving over 100,000 physicians, and several thousand more allied health professionals, throughout Maryland, the region, and the nation. These cover a broad range of clinical and scientific areas. MedChi CME activities include conferences, lectures, workshops, case presentations, and self-study.
A new CME has been developed to explain the most recent updates in the PDMP, including valuable clinical tools and reports available in the CRISP Portal. This webinar is now available here and also under the "Online Education" box). Our presenter, Dr. Gary Pushkin, has an insightful perspective in this area through his work with the Opioid Task Force at MedChi, which has now evolved into the Opioid Pain and Addiction Committee. The webinar is available for anyone to view and is eligible for 1.0 CME once reviewed in its entirety. For questions, please contact Colleen George at CGeorge@medchi.org.