Frequently Asked Questions
Medical University of South Carolina
College of Medicine Office of Continuing Medical Education
Frequently Asked Questions
The Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine is accredited
by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to
provide continuing medical education for physicians.
CME activities meeting specific criteria determined by the MUSC Office of CME will be designated for AMA PRA Category 1 credit TM. MUSC CME requires that all CME activities held under its accreditation be scientifically rigorous, balanced, objective and independent of any commercial interest. MUSC CME is the designated organization within MUSC College of Medicine with the responsibility and authority to oversee all CME activities sponsored by MUSC College of Medicine.
What kinds of activities does MUSC OCME sponsor for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit TM?
CME activities offered include lectures, conferences, workshops, symposia, regularly scheduled Grand Rounds and other recurring activities. During live activities methods used to encourage participant interaction with presenters include the use of our audience response system, breakout sessions, tabletop discussions and case discussions. Enduring materials are developed using a variety of media to include on-line activities (Internet) accessed through our web site and monographs. We also jointly sponsor CME activities with state and national organizations when the proposed activity meets our requirements for joint sponsorship. We require that a member of the College of Medicine faculty be directly involved with the planning of any CME activity requesting joint sponsorship.
How do I obtain CME sponsorship for my one-time or annual educational conference or workshop?
First contact the Office of CME, at 843-876-1925 and we will discuss your proposed activity with you. You will be provided with an application form to be completed and returned to our office for review. The Office of CME must be involved in the very earliest stages of the planning. If extensive planning has already taken place or promotional information has been distributed, we will not be able to sponsor your activity. Even if you feel that you are too early in the process to contact our office, contact us anyway. All proposed activities must follow MUSC and ACCME requirements and policies.
MUSC Office of CME can also arrange for other types of credit, including nursing and pharmacy, with the other colleges within the university. These credits may have additional requirements and costs, so please identify all other types of credit you are considering in your initial application.
All applications are reviewed by the Associate Dean for CME and the Director of the Office of CME. You will be contacted and informed of the status of your application.
How do I obtain CME sponsorship for a recurring conference (rounds, case conference, M&M conference, etc.) held on MUSC campus?
If you are interested in CME sponsorship for a grand rounds or case conferences held on MUSC Campus, please contact the RSC Coordinator, Elizabeth Gossen, at 843-876-1925, or at gossen@musc.edu.
A meeting will be scheduled with you to discuss the activity. All regularly scheduled conferences (grand rounds, case conferences, etc.) must submit approval applications on an annual basis. The application packets are sent out in late May or early June to departments who already have sessions approved through the Office of CME. The applications are returned and reviewed for approval.
What happens if my application gets turned down?
Depending on the reason your application was turned down, there are other CME providers in South Carolina who may be able to sponsor your activity. The ACCME has a list of accredited providers on its website (www.accme.org).
What do I do after I find out my application has been accepted?
An activity coordinator will be appointed to help you with the CME requirements. The activity coordinator will contact you and set up an initial planning meeting to review our policies and procedures and obtain additional information. The initial planning meeting is also an opportunity for you to further develop the information you included in your application and let us know what services you need from our office.
How much does MUSC CME charge for sponsoring an activity?
Our fee schedule is included in the initial application packet
What is the MUSC CME policy on commercial support and faculty relationships with industry?
MUSC College of Medicine requires that all CME activities held under its accreditation be scientifically rigorous, balanced, objective, and independent of any commercial interest. We do allow commercial support, subject to the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support and University policies. If you are interested in requesting commercial support, include this on your application and discuss it at the initial planning meeting, as there is additional paperwork involved.
These standards require that all planners and presenters disclose any financial relationships with commercial interests. Identified relationships must be resolved prior to the activity. Your activity coordinator will provide more information at the initial planning meeting.
Where can I find the forms needed to apply for CME credit?
Please call the CME Office at 843-876-1925 and we will provide information on accessing the forms you will need.
How can I get a pharmaceutical company to help pay for my CME meeting?
If you are interested in getting commercial support, be sure to put this on your application and mention it at the initial planning meeting, as there is additional paperwork involved. MUSC CME requires that all CME activities held under its accreditation be scientifically rigorous, balanced, objective, and independent of any commercial interest. We do allow commercial support, subject to the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support and MUSC policies. Specific policies must be followed.
Is it O.K. for a drug company to buy lunch for our noon conference?
According to ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, drug and medical equipment companies may support your noon conference with an educational grant. The check must come to you and then you may use it to pay for lunch or any other food function associated with your CME presentation. However, you must be responsible for ordering and paying for the lunch. ACCME states specifically that commercial interests (pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies) cannot pay caterers or restaurants directly for lunches or any other meals associated with an accredited conference.
We are applying for support from a pharmaceutical company for our conference? Do I put our department down as the accredited provider for CME?
No. MUSC Office of CME is the only designated organization within MUSC College of Medicine with the responsibility and authority to award CME credit. In order to ensure compliance with our accrediting body, ACCME, and other regulatory agencies, i.e. Office of Inspector General, FDA, etc. the following policy must be strictly enforced.
All applications to pharmaceutical and medical device companies for educational grants to support MUSC accredited CME activities must be reviewed by the Office of CME prior to submission. A majority of companies now require completion of a web based application. It is extremely important that the questions are answered correctly. Failure to provide the correct information is likely to delay or prevent funding from the pharmaceutical/medical device company. This also ensures that the College of Medicine is in compliance with ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education) and other regulatory agencies, i.e. OIG, FDA, etc.
Unfortunately, failure to abide by the requirements above may result in revoking of CME credits previously approved by the Office of CME.
We have been awarded an educational grant for our CME conference. I have received paperwork from the company. They said we need to sign it and send it back to them. Do you need to see this form?
In order to ensure compliance with our accrediting body, ACCME, and other regulatory agencies, i.e. Office of Inspector General, FDA, etc. the following policy must be strictly enforced.
Any letter of agreement (MUSC Office of CME Letter of Agreement included) or other “binding” document resulting from awarded educational grants for MUSC accredited CME activities must be reviewed and processed for signatures by the Office of CME.
The Office of CME Letter of Agreement is the preferred document. However, if the company awarding the educational grant requires that their own Letter of Agreement be used it must be reviewed and processed for signatures through the Office of CME. Again, this is to ensure that the Medical University of South Carolina, College of Medicine is in compliance with our accrediting body and other regulatory agencies.
Unfortunately, failure to abide by the requirements above may result in revoking of CME credits previously approved by the Office of CME.