CME activities can be divided into four categories. Each type
meets different needs for learners and organizers.
Any CME activity must comply with AMA and ACCME requirements to
be eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. The
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) offers prescribed
credit based on the same criteria as the AMA, but for this
accreditation you must plan your activity in detail at least three
months before it takes place.
To apply for a CME activity through the University at Buffalo,
please refer to the relevant planning information.
Regularly scheduled series, such as grand rounds, take place on
weekly or monthly bases. The provider’s staff plans and
presents them.
Conferences sponsored by the CME generally focus on the
diagnosis and treatment of a particular condition or medical
problem. They may last one day or take place over several days.
They seek to address identified needs and must be evaluated to
ensure they meet these needs.
Enduring materials give healthcare providers access to educational resources on their own schedules. They can include printed, electronic, or audiovisual media.
Enduring materials may be derived from live CME activities. In such a case, ACCME considers the provider to have created two separate activities. Both must comply with all ACCME requirements, and the enduring material must comply with additional ACCME policies specific to enduring materials.
Performance improvement (PI) activities improve targeted aspects of participants’ medical practice through an evidence-based, three-part program. Individuals or groups of physicians assess their current practice, learn about specific performance measures, apply the new measures over a useful interval, and at the end, re-evaluate their performance.