Facilitator Responsibilities

I. EDUCATIONAL PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Whether you have been facilitating CME activities for years or this is your first time through the process, it is necessary to understand the importance of following a specific process to develop, implement and manage your CME activity. The main goal of CME planning is to offer educational activities that meet the learning needs of the practicing physician. A well-executed Needs Assessment is the first step toward accomplishment of this goal.

II. NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Educational Planning should begin with your Planning Committee, and the development an organized process for conducting a Needs Assessment. The term Needs Assessment can be defined as:

“Any systematic approach to collecting and analyzing information about learning needs of physicians or the healthcare provider, or their organization in terms of what is and what should be.”

Sparrow Sponsored CME Conference Schedule

Quick Links: Accreditation (ACCME & AOA) CME Activity Information Application Form CME Application Instructions Application Process Overview Budgeting Form Commercial Support & Letter of Agreement Faculty Disclosure Evaluation Form Hold Harmless Agreement for Exhibitors Participant Sign-In Sheet Template Facilitator Responsibilities Helpful CME Links Joint Sponsorship Form Mission Statement Requesting Audiovisual Equipment Taxpayer Identification Form Under Construction: Application Process for CME CME Program Office Facilitator Planning & Development Guide

A Needs Assessment attempts to help bridge the gap between a healthcare problem (a deficit in knowledge, skills or attitudes) and the opportunity to resolve that problem. Results of your assessment will in turn drive the educational design process through the selection of appropriate Learning Objectives. Examples of methods to conduct a Needs Assessments include:

• Reviewing QI/QA or medical library data
• Physician and departmental surveys
• Formal/informal requests from staff
• Office or hospital incident reports
• Data from outside sources /community health stats
• Medical staff meeting minutes

III. LEARNING or EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
Learning or educational objectives must be developed for each CME activity or event. The Michigan State Medical Society Committee on CME Accreditation requires that all CME Objectives shall:

• State the educational need which the event addressed
• Indicate the physicians for whom the activity is designed
• List any special background requirements of the participants
• Highlight the instructional content and/or expected learning outcomes in terms of knowledge, skills and/or attitudes
• Make educational content and methods known to participants

IV. EDUCATIONAL METHODS
Designing and implementing the teaching activity is the heart of the educational process that begins with the determination of needs and objectives and ends with evaluation. Various methods can be used such as a formal presentation, panel discussions, or case reviews. When you tackle an educational design, the following issues must be considered:

• Definition of the desired learning objectives based on an assessment of need
• Selecting and designing the means to help the learners achieve the desired outcomes
• How to carry out the educational activities to best achieve the outcomes
• Evaluation of the outcomes, or success of the activity

V. GUEST FACULTY/SPEAKERS RECRUITMENT
There are several factors to consider in selecting your speakers, major ones being content expertise and the ability to communicate orally, and enthusiasm. A speaker can be identified on the basis of your previous experience with the individual, or by recommendations given to your planning committee from the various section heads of the hospital departments. Under no circumstance should you extend an invitation to a speaker who is not willing to meet the criteria necessary for granting Category 1 or Category 1A Credit. Also, final consideration is to use a mixture of in-house and guest faculty during any one curricular period.

VI. EVALUATION PROCESS
You should be evaluating your CME activities to ensure that the learning objectives have been met, and how your planning process can be improved. At the very least, your attendees at the CME activities must complete the Sparrow CME Evaluation Forms if they want to receive CME Credit.

VII. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION
When submitting the CME Application, make sure all of the questions have been answered, and that you attach all of the required documents as noted on the CME Application.

Note: Applications with the required documents should be submitted to the CME Office a minimum of six weeks in advance of the educational activity, or the start of the educational series, to allow the Sparrow CME Office & Committee time to review the application for approval/disapproval.

VIII. ABSOLUTES FOR ADVERSTISEMENTS & PUBLICATIONS
Prior to the application being approved by the Sparrow CME/Library Committee, absolutely no publications, brochures or other written materials may be distributed advertising your event as being CME sponsored. Nor may you advertise that you applied for CME Credits with statements such as “CME is pending”. If you do distribute such materials prior to approval, the event will not be CME sponsored. When distributing publications for CME approved events, you must include the Sparrow Health System accreditation statement on all written materials advertising the event. Not doing so may result in credits not being awarded to your participants.

IX. CME ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
Pursuant to the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) Committee on CME Accreditation on programs directly sponsored by Sparrow Health System, you must use the CME accreditation statement on any printed materials. Please refer to the CME application for the up to date accreditation statement.

X. COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS
It is the responsibility of the program Facilitator to collect and provide to the CME office the required documents as it relates to a CME Activity.