continuing medical education
North Memorial Continuing Medical Education

ATLS Program will be at the North Memorial Health Care, Education Center, for dates Click here for Brochure

2008 Primary Care Physicians Conference Click here for Vermilion brochure

Who We Are

State accredited by the Minnesota Medical Association, North Memorial Continuing Medical Education provides a comprehensive program of grand rounds, case reviews, conferences, to about 5,000 participants yearly. Our mission is to deliver continuing medical education (CME) and services which provide physicians with current, relevant, quality information.

Accreditation

North Memorial Health Care is recognized by the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) as a provider of continuing medical education. North Memorial Continuing Medical Education is responsible for participating in the planning and providing oversight for all accredited activities and for documenting that the MMA Essential Areas and Elements are met for each program. When your program receives accreditation, you are agreeing to cooperate with Continuing Medical Education to ensure the MMA Essential Areas and Elements are met.

Monthly Program Schedule

Download our CME Schedule.

CME Licensure Requirements

Nationwide information concerning state medical board regulations for continuing medical education for re-registration requirements can be accessed online State Medical Board Regulations on Continuing Medical Education for Licensure Registration.

Minnesota Board of Medical Practice (MBMP) Rules on Continuing Medical Education

The CME requirement is for 75 category 1 credit hours in every three-year cycle as defined by the AMA Physician's Recognition Award or its equivalent (such as the AAFP or AOA). For further information, you may contact the MBMP directly at (651) 642-0538 or FAX (651) 642-0393.

CME Event Planning Assistance

North Memorial Continuing Medical Education exists to support education that enhances the knowledge, skills and values of all health professionals to improve the health of our community. We seek to do this by structuring and delivering education efficiently and effectively using all the resources available to us.

We can provide assistance in planning, implementing, evaluating and accrediting your educational activity for AMA category 1 credit. Call (763) 520-7274 to learn more about the accreditation process for Continuing Medical Education (CME) and answers to questions frequently asked by program planners.

Our CME Staff

Education Grants

It is the policy of North Memorial Continuing Medical Education that no funds are accepted to support any programs. This also includes display fees.

CME Forms for Speakers

Disclosure Form [PDF]
Program Information Form [PDF]

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does CME accreditation exist?
Continuing Medical Education (CME) providers are accredited by the ACCME to assure physicians and the public that CME activities meet accepted standards of education.

Who is the Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) and what do they do?
North Memorial is accredited through the MMA. The MMA is recognized by the ACCME as the intrastate accrediting agency for organizations and institutions that provide CME activities for physicians in Minnesota. Accreditation is official recognition by the MMA that an overall program of CME complies with the criteria of the MMA Essential Areas, elements, and policies. Accreditation allows organizations to designate their CME activities for category 1 credit as defined by the Physician's Recognition Award (PRA) of the American Medical Association.

Who receives accreditation?
Accreditation is granted on the basis of the sponsor's demonstrated ability to plan and implement CME activities in accordance with the ACCME Essentials. North Memorial has been an accredited provider for over 35 years.

Who can get CME credit (AMA Category 1 credit)?
Only MDs and DOs can claim AMA Category 1 credit. Others are eligible for other types of credit, but all must be pre-arranged by planners and North Memorial Continuing Medical Education. Others can sign the sign-in sheet or complete an evaluation, which will be sent to the education department and indicated on your transcript you attended.

What kind of programs can be approved for CME credit?
Almost any activity that can be used to "improve a physician's practice" can be approved for credit. The needs assessment required by North Memorial Continuing Medical Education for approval ordinarily justifies the activity.

How many continuing medical education credits does a physician need?
At least 75 hours of continuing medical education credit must be obtained in any three year cycle by attendance at continuing medical education activities designated by an accredited sponsor as Category 1 of the Physician's Recognition Award of the American Medical Association.

Do CME courses offer CEU's for nurses and other health care professionals?
North Memorial CME courses are designated for Category 1 credit and are designed to meet the Minnesota Board of Nursing requirements. It is the responsibility of each participant to determine if the program meets the criteria for licensure or recertification for their discipline. Each participant will receive a certificate of attendance.

What is the difference between CMEs and CEUs?
CME credits are for MDs and DOs only, and are designated on an hour for hour basis (minus social activities and breaks). Continuing Education Units (CEUs) can be provided to others and are designated as 1/10 credit per 1 contact hour. There is often concern about the "value" difference, but 1 hour of AMA category 1 credit (CME) and 1/10 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) represent the same 1 hour of contact.

Who can plan a CME event?
North Memorial must have records of physician involvement in planning and of how decisions regarding speakers and topics are made. We use planning minutes to document this decision-making process. If planning minutes are not kept, documentation of decisions made need to be maintained in another written form. Alternatives to planning minutes should be discussed with the Director of CME.

Why is disclosure so important?
The ACCME requires a disclosure from each planning member and all faculty presenting prior to the activity taking place. It is the responsibility of NORTH MEMORIAL to: 1) Disclose the relationship as faculty provide it, 2) Disclose that no relationships exist. Documentation must be provided to justify the disclosed information. If a planning member or speaker refuses to disclosure, it is North Memorial's policy to replace that person or withhold credit from the activity.

Why should a budget be done?
A preliminary budget needs to be submitted with your application, this is considered part of the planning process. This preliminary budget outlines what you plan to spend on the activity and is completed at the beginning of planning. The financial summary is provided at the end of the year and explains what was actually spent on the activity. The MMA requires an annual over all budget regarding all CME activities.

When should the accreditation statement be used?
Once an activity has been approved, the accreditation statement must be used on all promotional material. The accreditation statement cannot be used before the activity is approved. The correct accreditation statement must be used, call North Memorial's Continuing Medical Education office for further information. In addition, the Americans With Disability Act Statement needs to be included.

Can the commercial supporter(e.g., pharmaceutical company) pay for things directly (honorarium, lunch, hotels)?
It North Memorial's policy that no CME activities receive any type of commercial support.

Can a commercial supporter "bring in a speaker?"
It North Memorial's policy that no CME activities receive any type of commercial support.

Can a commercial supporter provide funds to cover lunch?
It North Memorial's policy that no CME activities receive any type of commercial support.