Annual Report 2019

Office of Continuing Medical Education

2018-2019

Summary of Scholarly Activities

Office of Continuing Medical Education

I.        NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION 

Sharrie Cranford, LMSW, MS, CCTP, the director of USA’s Office of CME remains the Editor of the Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education’s tri-annual report the INTERCOM as well as a standing member of the Communications Committee. Sharrie is also the founder and Chair of the Alabama Continuing Medical Education Coalition which includes members from most all continuing medical education providers in the state of Alabama. 

II.        BRIEF SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES AND PROGRESS 

The University of South Alabama (USA) Office of Continuing Medical Education (OCME) received a four-year accreditation as a provider of Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE). As a jointly accredited provider, USA OCME can now offer continuing education credits to physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, together or separately, through the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

During 2018-2019, the Office of Continuing Medical Education (OCME) provided hundreds of educational activities that addressed the ever changing practice gaps of all healthcare providers including the healthcare team. The OCME coordinated CME activities provided by the clinical and university academic departments, the OCME, and outside agencies. There were approximately 35 regularly scheduled series (Grand Rounds), 33 conferences, 59 disaster preparedness seminars, and 3 online activities, all combining for 1070.75 CME hours of instruction and collaboration. In total 6727 physicians and 6422 non-physicians were awarded continuing education credits. Activities were jointly provided through the collaboration with the Coastal Trauma Care Region, Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research, Gulf Coast Patient Care Network, Gulf States Health Policy Center, Providence Foundation, Providence Hospital, Southeastern TeleHealth Resource Center, Springhill Medical Center, USA College of Business, Veterans Administration, and other organizations throughout our region.

III.        SIGNIFICANT PROFESSIONAL AND CME ACHIEVEMENTS

·       Awarded Joint Accreditation.

·       Sharrie Cranford selected as Chair of the Alabama Continuing Medical Education Coalition.

CME Plans for 2020

· Integrate Joint Accreditation criteria for commendations.

· Revise Policy and Procedure Manual to reflect changes in Joint Accreditation criteria.

· Implement aspects of five-year strategic plan created by the students of USA’s College of Business.