Professional Development


14 - Recognition of need for CME
Although physicians may be obliged to participate in and report CME, they readily recognize its value, accept that CME is necessary and support that it needs to be monitored. Most physicians agree that CME credit systems are an effective and useful means of motivating physicians to stay up to date and maintain clinical competency. CME activities are recognized for their high-quality and as leading to significant improvements in physician confidence, knowledge and clinical skills. In fact, the availability of CME credit is one of the top factors in a physician selecting an activity or material. According to the ACCME in their annual report, in 2003 in the U.S., there were nearly 67,000 CME activities offered, in which over 6 million physicians and 3 million non-physicians participated.