The main function of the Alliance is to support the professional development of its members, and thus to improve the quality of continuing medical education (CME). This purpose is served by the annual conference, the various institutes/workshops, the Alliance Connection, the Almanac, the Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, and other publications. This purpose is also served by new, expanded programs and resources to assist members in identifying their continuing professional development needs and then providing selected educational materials to meet those needs.
One of the new programs is the CME Professional Competencies Self-Assessment. It is designed to assist CME professionals and the organizations in which they work with
Identifying the areas where they have responsibility.
Assessing their skills in those areas of responsibility and
Identifying key areas where they can improve or need to develop new skills using many Professional Development Resources
Instructions
The Self Assessment should take 20-30 minutes. Read and answer the questions by clicking or typing as indicated. When you have completed the tool, please print a copy for your reference.
You may also print out a blank copy and complete by hand if you wish.
Doctorate:
MD DO
PHD EdD
Other Doctorate
Masters
Bachelors
Associates
High School
Part 2
The Alliance has identified 48 CME Professional
Competencies grouped into 8 areas. For each of the 48 competencies, please answer
two questions using the 5-point rating scale provided:
To what extent is this competency a current responsibility of
your job?
To what extent have you attained this competency?
Rating Scale Key:
1
2
3
4
5
None
Slight
Moderate
Considerable
Great
After each Competency Area, please type any comments you may have in the space provided.
Competency Area 1: Adult/Organizational Learning Principles
Description: Comprehend evidenced-based adult and organizational learning principles that
improve the
performance and outcomes of the physician learner and the organizations in
which they work.
Competency
To what extent
is this competency a current
responsibility
of your job?
To what extent
have you attained this competency?
1.1
Maintain awareness of evidenced-based adult learning principles
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1.2
Maintain awareness of organizational
development practices
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1.3
Conduct and/or apply educational research on learning and change
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1.4 Remain current on the CME literature
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Area
1 Comments: What specific knowledge or skills
would
best help you attain these competencies?
Competency Area 2: Educational Interventions
Description: Apply and improve educational interventions
using evidence-based adult and
organizational learning principles in appropriate contexts (learners, content and
settings) that
produce expected results for the physician learners and the organizations in which they work.
Competency
To what extent
is this competency a current
responsibility
of your job?
To what extent
have you attained this competency?
2.1
Use evidenced based adult learning
principles
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
2.2
Use data, especially clinical practice data, to identify physician learning needs
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
2.3
Facilitate physician self-directed learning
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
2.4
Help physicians reflect upon desired levels of performance
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
2.5 Translate learner needs into measurable objectives
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
2.6
Apply effective learning formats that consider needs and environment
2.12
Offer educational consultation that emphasizes measurement within physician organizations
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Area
2 Comments: What specific knowledge or skills
would
best help you attain these competencies?
Competency Area 3: Performance Measurement
Description: Use appropriate data to assess two components:
1) EducationalÑthe success
of learning interventions, especially physician performance (CME activities) and 2)
AdministrativeÑthe performance of the CME program.
Competency
To what extent is this
competency a current
responsibility of your job?
To what extent
have you attained this competency?
3.1
Develop and use a data management system for educational and administrative purposes
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
3.2
Use measurement data to assess educational outcomes/results
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
3.3
Provide
measurement tools and utilize data that enable learners to compare present and optimum performance
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
3.4
Promote continuous improvement skills for physicians
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
3.5
Use data to assess the performance of the CME office
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
3.6
Promote continuous improvement of the CME office
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Area
3 Comments: What specific knowledge or skills
would
best help you attain these competencies?
Competency Area 4: Systems Thinking
Description: Recognize that physicians and CME professionals
are part of a complex healthcare
system with processes, other health providers and patients that must be considered
in providing
learning interventions.
Competency
To what extent
is this
competency a current
responsibility
of your job?
To what extent
have you attained this competency?
4.1
Recognize that CME professionals and the physicians they serve are part of team within systems
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
4.2
Consider multi-disciplinary, or team, needs assessment, educational design and evaluation
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
4.3
Consider healthcare organizational needs and goals
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
4.4
Enable physicians and teams to apply what is learned with limited fear of failure
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
4.5
Design activities that help physicians and their teams adopt change incrementally within their system
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
4.6
Identify and help modify barriers to change and implementation of new knowledge
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Area
4 Comments: What specific knowledge or skills
would
best help you attain these competencies?
Competency Area 5: Partnering
Description: Identify and collaborate with key partners and
stakeholders in accomplishing their
CME mission.
Competency
To what extent
is this
competency a current
responsibility
of your job?
To what extent
have you attained this competency?
5.1
Identify and collaborate with internal partners (e.g., quality/performance improvement, library, patient care)
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
5.2
Identify and collaborate with external partners (e.g., public health dept., government agencies, commercial
supporters)
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
5.3
Build relationships that support educational improvements for the patient, the physician and his/her
organization
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
5.4
Apply effective communication and interpersonal skills
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Area
5 Comments: What specific knowledge or skills
would
best help you attain these competencies?
Competency Area 6: Leadership
Description: Provide leadership for the CME program which
emphasizes continuous improvement,
professionalism and appropriate ethical practice.
Competency
To what extent
is this
competency a current
responsibility
of your job?
To what extent
have you attained this competency?
6.1
Provide a vision for CME professionalsÕ and physiciansÕ role in continued learning
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
6.2
Develop a model learning organization
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
6.3
Provide and support an environment for
continuous improvement
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
6.4
Promote and support appropriate change as an essential to the CME program
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
6.5
Maintain a high standard of professionalism and
ethics
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
6.6
Be an advocate for the CME program
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Area
6 Comments: What specific knowledge or skills
would
best help you attain these competencies?
Competency Area 7: Administration/Management
Description: Manage office operations to meet personnel,
finance, legal, logistical, and
accreditation standards.
Competency
To what extent
is this
competency a current
responsibility
of your job?
To what extent
have you attained this competency?
7.1
Document the value of the CME program to its own organization and learners
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
7.2
Manage finances of the CME program to meet the
organizational needs
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
7.3
Provide appropriate logistics for educational activities
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
7.4
Facilitate the work of educational committees
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
7.5
Develop a collaborative, service-oriented management culture that promotes continuous improvement
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
7.6
Assure compliance with ACCME and other regulatory requirements
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
7.7
Apply effective management skills (e.g., problem solving, interpersonal skills, delegation and supervision
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Area
7 Comments: What specific knowledge or skills
would
best help you attain these competencies?
Competency Area 8: Self Assessment and Life Long Learning
Description: Continually assess individual and organizational performance and make
improvements through
relevant learning experiences.
Competency
To what extent
is this
competency a current
responsibility
of your job?
To what extent
have you attained this competency?
8.1
Engage in self-assessment to identify gaps in knowledge/practice and design an individual learning plan
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
8.2
Continually improve educational performance
of the CME program through professional
development
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
8.3
Promote professional development for self and
staff
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
Area
8 Comments: What specific knowledge or skills
would
best help you attain these competencies?
Additional
Comments:
CME Professional Competencies Self Assessment
Summary
In order to benefit the most from the use of this instrument, it should be approached and treated as part of an overall process, in much the same way as your professional growth evolves both within your organization as well as in the CME world in general. You are encouraged to take one section and address your needs in the area where the greatest emphasis should be. It is unnecessary and probably less than constructive to evaluate your needs in all of the competency areas at one time. Rather, use it as you would any resource, with some areas being used over and over again but for different reasons and other areas not as much.
Once you have concluded your work in a specific section, you can begin to act on the information you’ve collected by utilizing resources from other sources such as "Competency Areas for CME Professionals", an in-depth look at competencies in healthcare. As your own professional life changes, and as the environment around you changes, this instrument can be applied in a variety of ways to help you stay aware of the impact of those changes and the direction in which you are moving.
Related Applications
Individuals in CME may use the CME Professional Competencies Self Assessment process for several different purposes:
Professional Development Needs Assessment. A CME professional can use all or parts of this instrument to assess the state of his/her knowledge, skills, and abilities in several realms. Competencies that need to be developed or sharpened can serve as the basis for planning an educational self development program.
CME Staff Learning Needs Assessment. This instrument makes it possible to review the collective competencies of a CME staff and to identify individual competencies that need to be strengthened. In turn, CME administrators can use the information for planning staff development programs.
Position Descriptions and Evaluations. CME managers can use this instrument to assist them in developing job descriptions for CME positions, setting performance standards, and evaluating staff.
