CME Resources

WSMA CME Accreditation Program

The Washington State Medical Association is recognized by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)* to provide a voluntary intrastate accreditation program for organizations that provide Category 1 continuing medical education activities. CME is central to life long learning and professional development to which physicians and the WSMA are committed. Through its accreditation program, the WSMA seeks to assure physicians and the public that CME activities provided by accredited sponsors meet the high standards adopted by the association and by the ACCME.

The WSMA CME Accreditation Committee has adopted Essential Areas, Elements and Standards for Commercial Support that must be met in order to become an accredited CME provider. It reviews applications and survey team reports in fulfilling its obligations to make accreditation decisions. An integral part of the accreditation process is the site visit at which time the survey team will gather information and documentation that will verify that the organization has, in practice, met the criteria for accreditation.

The WSMA does not accredit individual activities. Organizations are accredited for their overall CME program. The designation of CME credit for specific CME activities is the responsibility of the accredited provider, and is not within the purview of the WSMA or the ACCME.

To request more information on becoming an accredited provider, including the WSMA CME Accreditation Manual, please print and fill out the Pre-Application for CME Accreditation Form [pdf]. Once complete please mail the form and a $35 check made payable to WSMA to:

WSMA
c/o Professional Affairs
2033 6th Ave. Ste. 1100
Seattle, WA 98121

For further information or questions, please contact John Arveson, Director of CME & Special Projects or Jodi Smith, CME & Special Projects Coordinator.

The following downloads are pdf files unless marked otherwise. Please contact Jodi Smith for actual copies of any of the following documents.

• Guide to Accreditation Process
  
• 2009 Criteria
• Activity Summary
• Demographic Information Form
• Instructions for Submitting CME Activity Lists
• Activity List (Excel spreadsheet)
• Activity File Instructions
• Activity Labels
• Self Study Tabs
• Surveyor Report Form
• WSMA Documentation Review Form
• Updated Standards of Comm. Support
• Decision Making Grid
• 2010 Activity Summary Form (Word)

*The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education
www.accme.org

Continuing Education, general requirements for physicians: Washington State Department of Health, Health Professions Quality Assurance, Medical Quality Assurance Commission:
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/hpqa1/ HPS5/Medical/physician_edu.htm

• WSMA Principles of Medical Ethics
• Opinions from WSMA Judicial Council
• AMA Ethics
• Quality Care/Best Practices
• Leadership Development
• Patient Safety
• Medical Staff Resources
• Life Long Learning (CME)
  • CME Listings from Washington State
  • Links to Accredited Providers
  • CME Resources
  • Online CME
• Contact Center for Medical Professionalism