The concept of Continuing Medical Education (CME) was first developed in the 1960s, and now is overseen by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). The goal of the CME program is to optimize patient care. To accomplish this, CME programs are designed to provide the most up-to-date information and strategies to physicians and allied health professionals. CME consists of educational activities that serve to maintain and increase the knowledge that a physician uses to provide services for patients [1]. The content of CME is that body of knowledge and skills generally recognized by the profession as necessary. Content lies within the basic medical sciences, clinical medicine, and public health.

Mandatory CME activities are planned and designed to assist physicians and other professionals in academic medicine, including physicians, educators, researchers, meeting planners, administrators, and support staff [1]. In Illinois, the CME program requires each participant to obtain 50 credits per year, although some states require physicians to obtain only 25 or 30 hours. The activities can be completed in person or via the internet; however, the those who use internet activities are not given as many credits as those present or hear live lectures

There are three categories of CME activities. Category 1 is directly listening to a lecture or presentation or giving a lecture or presentation. Category 2 is participating in an internet or telephone conference. Category 3 is preparing for a presentation or studying a book and answering a questionnaire [2]. Category 1 is preferred and this is shown by the fact that Category 1 activities are awarded more credit hours. Hands-on activities are preferred by the CME program and are therefore allocated more credits.

Physicians begin taking part in the CME program as soon as they finish residency and continue until the year they retire. In Illinois, the requirement is 50 hours of CME activities per year [1]. Physicians can obtain all their credits in one month or they can spread the activities out over the year.

Content for the CME activities include a wide range of topics, including leadership, administration, and management skills; CME research skills; and use of innovative technologies [1]. The bulk of a physician’s CME credits come from the annual conference pertaining to their specialty. This event is usually for 4 or 5 days and allows the physician to obtain up to 25 credits depending on how many activities they attend. Physicians are also given the opportunity to earn credits every week at the hospital they work at by attending the weekly CME presentation or giving a lecture [2]. They are not allowed to attend CME activities that do not pertain to their specialty. The ACCME urges physicians to choose CME programs for their educational value and not for amenities unrelated to the educational purpose of the activity. Participation in activities where industry has paid any of the physician’s expenses or offered any other inappropriate gift are seen as unethical [1].

The expected results of the CME program are that physicians undergoing CME will better translate research, evidence, knowledge, and skills into their work. Ways to assess the success of CME include judging the performance of physician learners, and identifying specific knowledge and skills gained through CME [2]. Many physicians feel that the CME program gives them an organized and easily available method to improve their knowledge and keep abreast of the constant changes in medicine [2]. Participants of the CME program seem to agree that the program does lead to improved care for patients and enhanced healthcare outcomes.