Planning a CME Event

Explore AnMed’s CME activity categories, planning process & compliance steps to ensure high-quality, unbiased & accredited educational programs.

CME Activity Categories

CME activities are divided into four categories, each designed to meet different learning and organizational needs.

To be eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, all CME activities must comply with AMA and ACCME requirements.

For application materials and credit approval through AnMed, please contact the Office of Continuing Medical Education at cme@anmed.org.

Recurring Activities

Regularly Scheduled Series (RSS)

These ongoing educational activities, such as grand rounds, occur on a weekly or monthly basis. They are planned and presented by the provider’s staff to ensure consistent professional development.

Planning Regularly Scheduled Series (RSS)

Regularly Scheduled Series (RSS) such as grand rounds, journal clubs, and case conferences occur on a weekly or monthly basis.

Planning Process

AnMed is committed to providing CME that is scientifically valid and free from commercial, personal, professional and organizational bias. To ensure this, you must complete a series of steps over the course of the year to apply for your activity and maintain CME credit: 

Step 1: Contact the CME Office

  • Initiate the process by contacting the CME Office to apply for credit.

Step 2: Submit the CME Activity Planning Application

  • Complete and submit the CME Activity Planning Application along with all required forms.
  • Special Note: If the activity director has financial relationships with companies relevant to the planned activity, the departmental CME committee — including at least two members without financial relationships — must assume responsibility for:
    • Needs assessment
    • Establishing objectives
    • Content development
    • Speaker selection
    • Planners with ineligible financial relationships will not be allowed to serve on the planning team for the activity. 

Step 3: Prepare Before Each CME Event

Submit the following forms to the CME Office:

  1. Speaker/Planner Declaration Form and Conflict of Interest Form
    • Required for all speakers and planners.
    • If a speaker has relevant financial relationships, they must complete a Financial Relationship Attestation Form.
    • The CME chair (without financial relationships) must complete a Resolution of Conflict of Interest Form to ensure the content’s validity and independence. Strategies to resolve potential bias include:
      • Reviewing content and assessing the underlying data.
      • Advising the speaker to adjust focus, scope, or objectives (e.g., balance pros and cons of alternative treatments).
      • Selecting a different speaker with no conflicts of interest.
  2. Letter of Agreement (LOA) for unrestricted educational grants:
    • Required if the activity is supported by an educational grant.
    • The LOA must be signed by:
      • The supporting company
      • The education provider (e.g., your department)
      • The accredited provider (AnMed CME Office)
    • Grants must be sent directly to the education provider or CME Office. Commercial supporters cannot pay expenses directly.
Deadlines

Submit the following forms before each session:

  • Conflict of Interest Form
  • Speaker/Planner Declaration Form
  • Faculty Review Checklist Form (if applicable)
  • Letters of Agreement (LOAs)

Step 4: Conducting Each CME Event

At every CME event:

  • Use the official attendance sheet from the CME Office. Attendees must sign in with their employee ID numbers.
  • Disclosure Statement: Inform attendees of the speaker’s disclosures. Confirm one of the following:
    • All financial relationships with companies are disclosed.
    • The speaker has no financial relationships to disclose.
    • The speaker refused to disclose relationships (note: CME credit cannot be offered for such sessions)
    • All financial relationships with ineligible companies have been mitigated

This disclosure is mandatory for all CME activities, including those without commercial support  The activity director, a designee from your profession or the speaker, must verify on of the following for the audience:

Step 5: After Each CME Event (Within 10 Days)

Participants rely on their CME transcripts to renew privileges and, in many cases, maintain board certification. To provide the most accurate record of their CME credits, submit the Attendance Sign-In Sheet and any required forms at least once a month. This ensures proper credit allocation.

CME credits will be revoked after 6 months of non-compliance if you fail to comply with the monthly submission requirement. If this happens, you must reapply to the CME office to regain credit.

Step 6: Submit Annual Paperwork

Each year, the CME Office will email renewal instructions and required forms to the Activity Director and Activity Coordinator. To comply with ACCME requirements and continue offering credit, the following paperwork must be submitted by the first week of January:

  • Regularly Scheduled Series Renewal Application
  • COI – Conflict of Interest Resolution Form
  • Speaker/Planner Declaration Form (for the activity director and all planners; forms for speakers must be submitted throughout the year)
  • Summary of ACCME Commercial Support Requirements Form (signed by the activity director and coordinator)
  • Annual Budget Report (if there is no budget, submit a report with “0” entered on both the top and bottom lines)
  • Evaluations (RSS events must use the evaluation form provided by the CME Office, which includes:
    • Assessment of clinical, educational, or professional impact
    • Suggestions from participants
    • Rating of scientific validity and content independence)

If you plan to renew your series for the following year, submitting these forms will allow you to do so. No separate CME Activity Planning Application is needed for renewal.

Failure to submit the required forms on time will result in suspension of CME credit for your activity. If you do not receive the email notification to renew, please inform the CME Office.