Quality Improvement and Continuing Education in Dental Practice

Abstract

Continuing medical education (CME) has seen some changes in recent years that providers of continuing dental education (CDE) would do well to note. In September 2006, the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) introduced new criteria for the accreditation of CME providers in the United States. 1 Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education Web site. 2006 Updated Decision-Making Criteria Relevant to the Essential Areas and Elements. “www.accme.org/dir_docs/doc_upload/b03aa5cc-b017-4395-a41f-8d5d89ac31ca_uploaddocument.pdf” Google Scholar In addition, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians have made provision for CME providers to award CME credit to physicians for performance improvement activities or point-of-care learning in their practices. 2 American Medical Association The Physician's Recognition Award and Credit System: Information for Accredited Providers and Physicians, 2006 Revision. American Medical Association, Chicago2006 Google Scholar , 3 American Academy of Family Physicians Performance Improvement in Practice. “www.aafp.org/online/en/home/cme/cmea/cmeapplying/perfimprovement.html” Google Scholar In January, the Joint Commission 4 The Joint Commission Health Care at the Crossroads: Development of a National Performance Measurement Data Strategy. The Joint Commission, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.2008 Google Scholar revised its standards to require that hospital-based CME be linked to the findings of hospital performance improvement activities and advocated the development of a national performance measurement strategy that would facilitate the flow of information to health care providers.