Accreditation Process

The accreditation process is essentially a four-step process as follows:

[1] The first step involves the submission of an Initial Application or Self-Study Report by the prospective CME provider to the LSMS. If an applicant will be sponsoring activities that will draw an audience of which 30% or more practice outside Louisiana or the contiguous states, or appears to more appropriately be an interstate candidate, it will be referred to the ACCME. Each applicant will be evaluated as to how well it meets the Essentials Areas and Elements. The Initial Application for Self-Study Report should be completed by both the physician in charge of the organization’s CME committee and the person who is in charge of the day-to-day operation of the program.

[2] The Initial Application for Self-Study Report  is reviewed by both the LSMS Director of Education and LSMS CME Coordinator for completeness and appropriateness. If the application is incomplete or inappropriate it is returned to the applicant for possible clarification or refinement. The applicant may resubmit the application within 60 days without incurring another application fee.

[3] If this review determines that the organization is a candidate for accreditation, a Site Survey is then scheduled with the applicant by the LSMS. The site survey team is usually composed of up to five persons: two members of the Committee on CME Accreditation, the LSMS Director of Education and/or the LSMS CME Coordinator, and one outside nonvoting surveyor from an organization already accredited by the LSMS CMEAP. During the site survey the LSMS surveyors will observe the prospective CME provider’s actual CME program in operation, interview the CME staff, review pertinent records and facilities, and meet with the CME committee. The amount of time spent in conducting this survey will vary. However, each site survey will be no more than one-half a day in duration. The site survey team will prepare a report of its evaluation of the program for submission to the LSMS Committee on CME Accreditation.

A "reverse site survey" may be used for organizations applying for the third and subsequent accreditation periods. The organization will send representatives (including the physician Chair and the staff CME coordinator) to a meeting of the LSMS Committee on CME Accreditation. They will be asked to present documentation and information necessary to help the Committee make an accreditation decision.

[4] In the last step of the accreditation process, the full Committee on CME Accreditation votes on the Initial Application for Self-Study Report. This vote is based upon information in the site surveyor report. A favorable vote results in the accreditation of the provider who is given a certificate for public display attesting to this distinction.