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IAC Newsletter

CME

Lack of Continuing Medical Education (CME)/(CE) is the most common deficiency amongst applicant laboratories. The ICANL Board of Directors has closely examined that data and also considered the requirement through the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) which stipulates that physicians and technologists must obtain continuing education relative to the performance of advanced imaging services. In an attempt to assist laboratories with improving upon this deficient area, the ICANL Board of Directors has determined that beginning July 1st 2009, first time applicant laboratories will no longer be granted one year provisional status for inadequate CME. Instead, laboratories that are unable to document completion of 15 hours of continuing education for all staff members will be delayed until attainment of the CME/CE requirement is met and can be documented.

The ICANL Standards require each staff member to obtain 15 hours of continuing education relevant to nuclear medicine, every three years. Physicians must obtain at least 15 hours of AMA Category I continuing medical education and technologists must obtain at least 15 hours of accredited continuing education that is approved for VOICE, ARRT Category A, ASRT or AMA Category I credit. If the physician staff member recently completed an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) approved residency or fellowship within the past three years, the CME requirement is considered fulfilled. Similarly, if a technologist completes an accredited/programmatic nuclear medicine program within the past three years, the CE requirement is considered fulfilled.

In addition, if a physician staff member has attained certification by an American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) recognized board or has attained certification by the Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology (CBNC) within the past three years, the CME requirement is waived. The CME waiver for recertification will only apply to nuclear medicine, radiology, and the CBNC exams. If a technologist attains an appropriate technical credential within the past three years, including advanced examination credentials (i.e. NCT, PET), the CE requirement is waived.

Of particular importance, as published within The ICANL Standards, is the requirement that CME/CE must be “relevant” to nuclear medicine and be inclusive of content that is directly related to the performance or interpretation of nuclear cardiology, nuclear medicine or intervention used during nuclear testing, such as stress testing. Courses that are directly related to requirements of The ICANL Standards are also considered relevant (i.e. radiation safety or quality assurance). Relevant CME/CE does not include education with a primary focus on alternate diagnostic imaging modalities such as echocardiography/ultrasound, MRI, CT, cardiac catheterization, general medicine or the treatment of diseases, unless related to the interpretation of nuclear imaging or radionuclide therapies.

In an effort to help laboratories determine whether or not a course is relevant to nuclear medicine, the CME Committee of the ICANL Board of Directors has recently developed a CME Predetermination List by reviewing more than 35 continuing education programs and courses to conclude the relevance that each lecture has to nuclear medicine. The CME Predetermination List is published on the ICANL website at www.icanl.org/icanl/community/cme.htm. Laboratories are encouraged to review this list prior to completion of the CME/CE sections within the application, particularly if they question the relevance of a particular course. For review of a particular course not listed on the predetermination list, please submit the course brochure to the ICANL (icanl@intersocietal.org) and the CME Committee with provide an assessment regarding the relevance of the credits offered. When completing the CME sections of the Online Accreditation application, it is critical to list each lecture or course completed, per staff member. For example, it is not sufficient to state that the staff member attended the 2009 ACC. Instead, the individual lectures attended, such as the “Advances in Cardiac SPECT Imaging or Gated SPECT/PET to Assess LV Function”, should be detailed.

The IAC Online Accreditation application portal is available to laboratories at all times during the three-year accreditation period. Laboratories are encouraged to utilize it as a tool to easily track CME/CE acquired by staff members, between accreditation applications.

As a resource to nuclear medicine professionals seeking opportunities for Nuclear Cardiology / Nuclear Medicine / PET-related CME credit, the ICANL publishes both courses and ongoing CME opportunities under the ICANL Community heading on the ICANL website at www.icanl.org/icanl/community/cme.htm.

The ICANL looks forward to the improvements that these changes will afford both accredited laboratories and those embarking on the process. Laboratory staff members with questions about the process are encouraged to contact the ICANL via the staff email directory at www.icanl.org/icanl/contact/staff.htm, or by phone at 800-838-2110 with both general and technical questions.

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