UNION EUROPÉENNE DES MÉDECINS SPÉCIALISTES
EUROPEAN UNION OF MEDICAL SPECIALISTS
U.E.M.S.
UEMS, Secretariat/Siège: Av.de la Couronne, 20, B-1050 BRUSSELS
tel:+32-2-649.5164, fax: +32-2-640.3730, e-mail: uems@skynet.be
D 9935
Purpose, structure and mode of operation of the
European Accreditation Council for CME (EACCME).
July 1999
Purpose:
The purpose of the EACCME will be the harmonization and improvement of the
quality of specialist medical care in Europe. In the field of Continuing Medical
Education (CME) the EACCME will serve this purpose by improving quality of
CME and accessibility of CME for the medical specialists in Europe.
Introduction:
On 20 March 1999 the plenary meeting of the Management Council of the UEMS
(European Union of Medical Specialists) approved the UEMS document D 9907
(European Accreditation of CME), which set the course leading towards the institution of
the EACCME. At the same time the UEMS document D 9908 (Criteria for international
CME) was approved. In this document basic quality requirements for CME are stated. Both
documents will be adapted and updated according to the demands that arise in the future.
Instrument:
The practical instrument to improve the quality of CME in Europe will be the facilitation of
transfer of CME credits obtained by individual specialists in CME activities that meet
common quality requirements:
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between European countries
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between different Specialties
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between the European and North American credit systems
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in the case of migration of a specialist within Europe
To achieve this purpose transfer of CME has to be facilitated by the development and
adoption of compatible quality criteria and systems for accreditation of CME activities and
the awarding of CME credits.
Methods:
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Unimpaired authority of the parties in the field:
It is not the purpose of the EACCME to trespass on national professional authority and to
constitute a central European Body which takes care of accreditation of CME providers
and awarding of CME credits to individual doctors. Neither is it the purpose of the
EACCME to award credits itself. The EACCME will act as a clearing house for CME
accreditation and credits, that will be awarded by the national and European professional
Societies in the field.
Where a country has opted for recertification this will be the sole responsibility of the
national professional body designated for this task.
The EACCME will catalogue CME activities and assign European accreditation to CME
activities that meet the agreed quality criteria and have been accredited by the appropriate
authority. This European accreditation together with the designated number of CME
credits will be recognized by the national professional CME authorities committed to the
EACCME. Individual doctors will be awarded the designated number of European credits.
These credits will be recognized by their national professional CME authority.
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European application necessary for international CME activities:
Application for European accreditation by the EACCME will be requested by CME
providers that offer CME activities that might be of interest to doctors from different
countries. In practice this will be the responsible national professional bodies, societies or
institutions and the European Boards, Societies and others when they organize CME
activities. The EACCME channels this information to the national professional CME
authorities for use in national CME assessment programmes that may exist in that country.
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Benefits for the national professional CME authorities:
Working with the EACCME the national professional CME authorities will only need the
link with the EACCME concerning international CME accreditation and awarding of credits.
They will not have to deal with many European CME providers, often unknown to them.
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Benefits for the European Boards and National and European Scientific Societies:
Working with the EACCME the European Boards and National and European Scientific
Societies will only need the link with the EACCME and they do not have to contact all
national professional CME authorities separately concerning international CME
accreditation and awarding of credits.
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Benefits for doctors:
Doctors, who require CME credits in their own country or in another country when they
migrate, benefit from the European Accreditation and CME credits since European credits
obtained in another country or specialty will be recognized nationally.
The EACCME is designated for specialists who require recognized CME credits in their
particular situation.
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Expertise and supervision of the EACCME:
The EACCME is a body of the UEMS, which means that it has direct contact with and is
supervised by its constituting national organizations of medical specialists in the European
Union. On the other hand the expertise of the UEMS Sections and Boards at European
level is incorporated in the EACCME through the UEMS.
Requirements:
European accreditation and European CME credits require:
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Consensus on basic quality requirements for international CME.
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Accreditation and awarding of credits by the national and/or European professional
societies in the field.
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Assessment of the quality of international CME providers by the national and European
professional societies in the field.
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A compatible system of accreditation and awarding of CME credits in Europe.
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Channelling of European accreditation and credits through the EACCME.
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Commitment of national professional CME authorities designated by the UEMS
member organizations.
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National and European Societies have to award an identical number of CME credits to
the same CME activity.
Structure of the EACCME:
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Statutory level:
The EACCME as body of the Executive Committee of the UEMS is governed by the
Management Council of the UEMS, which in turn is accountable to the National Medical
Associations which constitute the UEMS. Policy decisions concerning the EACCME are
subject to ratification by the Management Council of the UEMS.
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Executive level:
In the initial phase of the EACCME the organization will be operated by the Executive
Committee of the UEMS. The national professional CME authorities committed to the
international exchange of CME credits through the EACCME will be partners in the
operation of the EACCME.
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Future structure:
The Management Council of the UEMS has decided to start the operation of the EACCME
in small steps and not to await further development of CME in Europe. The early start will
make it possible to iron out teething troubles in a small organization. Postponement will
require establishment of a substantial organization right from the start, which might cause
serious problems. Evaluation of the structure by the governing body and the participating
partners has to take place in the future when the EACCME takes root.
Financing the EACCME:
In the introductory period of the EACCME the expenses will be borne by the UEMS. When
the system starts operating and actual transfer of accreditation and credits takes place, the
operating expenses of the EACCME will be met by contributions from the participating
CME providers. The operation of the EACCME will take place within the UEMS office and
will not require the establishment of a separate EACCME office.