SSVMS Can now Accredit CME Programs

WE ARE VERY PLEASED to announce that the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society (SSVMS), in conjunction with the Community Service, Education, and Research Fund (CSERF) has been accredited by the Institute of Medical Quality of the California Medical Association to certify educational programs to provide physicians with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Initially we will focus on educational activities developed by Society committees such as Child and Adolescent Health Services, Emergency Care, and Public and Environmental Health that are already meeting regularly to address emerging issues and needs. We hope to eventually also offer joint sponsorship for non-accredited groups such as specialty societies.

How did we get here?
In fall of 2005, the Child and Adolescent Health Services Committee of SSVMS gathered information from family practitioners and pediatricians about their patients with mental health problems. A survey was developed to determine interest and need in support of their proposed Pediatric Mental Health for Primary Care Physicians series. This series of six activities was accredited by Shriners.

After the success of the first in this series, a proposal was made to the SSVMS Board of Directors in March 2006 to pursue our own accreditation. To do this the following steps were taken: survey the membership to determine interest in pursuing accreditation, develop a list of topics, develop a list of members interested in participating in the CME Commit-tee; appoint a CME Committee (see below); conduct four CME activities under the guidance of a joint sponsor over the next 12 months; and apply for accreditation.

In November 2006, our application to become accredited was submitted to the Institute of Medical Quality of the California Medical Association (IMQ/CMA). We had our site survey on January 15 and were accredited on February 7.

Our Mission
The mission of the continuing medical education function of CSERF is to provide educational activities designed to meet the needs of member physicians to improve and enhance their medical knowledge and skills.

We adhere to the guidelines and standards for continuing medical education set forth by both the IMQ/CMA and the ACCME Essentials and Standards. We also respond to CME policy statements issued by the FDA and AMA, and are guided by membership needs assessment surveys, member physicians, SSVMS committees, and evaluation results from previous activities. We will plan and implement CME activities that meet the needs of the audience for new and emerging medical information and guidelines for improving patient care.

We see our niche as providing the kind of activities not met by other providers. We believe the Medical Society can offer a unique perspective in the local CME world because we are unaffiliated with any hospital or medical group. In addition, we already have committees such as Child and Adolescent Health services, Emergency Care, and Public and Environmental Health, that meet regularly to address emerging issues and needs. These SSVMS committees will be the starting place for developing our CME activities.

Although our accreditation gives us the opportunity to jointly sponsor CME activities with non-accredited organizations such as specialty societies, the CME Committee has decided that during our first year the focus of our fledgling CME program should be working with SSVMS committees to develop and implement activities.

Thank You
A special thank you to CME Committee members Denise Satterfield, MD (chair), Satya Chatterjee, MD, Jose Cueto, MD, Alfredo Czerwinski, MD, Barbara Hays, MD, Maynard Johnston, Richard Jones, MD, Alexander Kelter, MD, Donald Lyman, MD, Charles Maas, MD, Lee Snook, MD, Lee Welter, MD, and Bill Sandberg. They expended much energy and overcame many obstacles to get this program up and running.

If you have questions about our CME program, please contact Kristine Wallach at 453-0254