Wayne State’s Department of Continuing Medical Education has earned the highest accreditation from an organization that promotes and helps develop continuing medical education, or CME.

The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education recognized the Continuing Medical Education Department with an “Accreditation with Commendation,” according to a university news release published Dec. 2.

Dr. David Pieper, assistant dean for the department, said, “Other institutions will look at our policies and practices to emulate in order to improve their CME programs.”

He also said this recognition will help the department attract grants.

Dr. Murray Kopelow, chief executive of the ACCME, said “Accreditation with Commendation” confers a six-year term of accreditation, rather than the four-year term providers receive with a status of Accreditation.

“‘Accreditation with Commendation’ is awarded to approximately 15 percent of ACCME accredited providers,” he said. “This recognition informs learners and other stakeholders that the provider has demonstrated leadership, collaboration with other health care stakeholders and a commitment to improving health care quality and safety.”

Pieper said the Continuing Medical Education Department had to meet all of the ACCME’s 22 criteria to receive the accreditation.
He said some of the most difficult criteria involved analyzing changes in physician competence, performance or patient outcomes.

Pieper also said the department showed some initiative and established several new types of CME at the university.

There was a challenge insofar as integrating CME within WSU’s quality improvement initiatives and the Detroit Medical Center, but Pieper said the center’s “Quality Improvement Division was especially helpful in working with us to improve the relevancy of our CME programs.”

Kopelow said in order for a department to earn recognition, it must go through a process that includes a self-study report, a performance in practice review and an interview.

Pieper said there are going to be many changes in CME for his department over the next few years, including actions taken so the university’s physicians’ performances could receive recognition.

“Receiving ‘Accreditation with Commendation’ positions WSU to be a national leader in developing these new and exciting relationships,” he said.