La Quinta Resort, La Quinta, California
November 6-11, 2005

NEW CME FORMAT - BETA TEST

The CME format at La Quinta had a new profile. Attendees earned their 17.5 Category 1 equivalent hours after doing some homework, taking quizzes, printing the quiz results (all on the internet using their personal computers or at a nearby library), then attending the formal meeting and participating in discussion of the articles. The format was well received and resulted in lively and informative discussion.

In the distant past we purchased speakers (back in the 60s, 70s, and even the 80s). As our organization (and funds from dwindling dues) dropped from 1400 members to less than 200 active members, adequate funds were no longer available and we started using free member-lecturers, which they did out of the goodness of their hearts.

Additionally, the sum of our meeting CME dropped to 12 hours, less than acceptable for many physicians who have to convince bosses and colleagues that the trip is necessary. And, finally, we have had to appeal to an agency to “grant” credit status. First we used a group in Colorado who charged a large fee per meeting to issue certificates. Their charges increased dramatically a few years ago at which time we said “forget it”. That’s when we went to the American Academy of Family Practice and met their requirements for certification. Since I am a member, I qualify for use of that service and it costs us $100.00/meeting. Mind you, I did all the organizing, record keeping, form-filling, etc., the Academy simply reviewed the proposed meeting records and issued a statement of agreeing the meeting met their requirements for Category I CME certification. As expected, the Academy has raised charges recently. All this has led to a consideration for change.

With recognition that lecture-learning isn’t a very successful method of learning/reviewing (too passive) and the lecture time necessary for 4 or 5 hours/day makes it impossible to run any kind of sports activity, a new format for meeting CME was conceived and then tested at our La Quinta meeting. It was a success. I must admit surprise at how faithful members were in completing the tests and making copies of the results. It seems our colleagues have become more comfortable with using computers and the internet than when we first started using them in our 500 bed hospital in Burbank in the 70s.

The logic used in designing this format is based on the existing practice of many of the specialties using self-study on the internet then submitting completed quizzes for CME credit. These self-study programs are freely available to all physicians for their personal education. Additionally, use of self-study is somewhat better than lecture for effectiveness of education, but self-study followed by group discussion with colleagues is even better (considering that the initial study material is reinforced and expanded by input from field-experienced colleagues).

How was this Beta test accomplished? Here’s how it worked:

Those physicians asking for CME credit awere asked to, at their home computer, or in their office or a local library computer:

review selected articles (available free from internet sources)

take the quizes thereto related

make a copy of the completed quiz page (not the entire quiz, just the answer page)

bring the copies to the CME meetings