See also:
Continuing Medical Education (CME), Definition
CME Materials, Distribution by Commercial Entities
CME Mandatory for Relicensure
CME Mission Statement
CME Providers, Terms and Definitions
CME Credit, Elective and Prescribed
CME Accreditation, Complementary and Alternative Practice Activities
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) maintains there is value in providing information about complementary and alternative practices (also referred to as integrative practices and other terms) to help family physicians respond to patients who use these therapies and who would consider using them. Family physicians need to understand new medical practices and products including complementary and alternative practices to effectively counsel patients, understand potential drug or treatment interactions and better evaluate patient outcomes.
All CME activities must demonstrate high educational, ethical, and medical standards. Those that include information about complementary and alternative practices must meet all existing AAFP criteria for CME. These criteria establish specific parameters for categorizing CME clinical content as a) evidence-based (EB CME), b) customary and generally accepted (CGA CME), c) neither EB CME nor CGA CME but not dangerous or proven ineffective, d) dangerous or proven ineffective, CME credit eligibility for clinical content is defined according to these categories. EB and CGA CME are eligible for Prescribed or Elective credit. Clinical content that is neither EB nor CGA CME but not dangerous or proven ineffective is eligible for Elective credit only. Clinical content that is dangerous or proven ineffective is ineligible for CME credit.
In cases where educational, ethical, and medical standards are not adhered to, or where the criteria for alternative and complementary practices are not met, the AAFP Commission on Continuing Professional Development (COCPD) reserves the right to withhold or withdraw CME credit. (B1998) (2004)
All CME activities must demonstrate high educational, ethical, and medical standards. Those that include information about complementary and alternative practices must meet all existing AAFP criteria for CME. These criteria establish specific parameters for categorizing CME clinical content as a) evidence-based (EB CME), b) customary and generally accepted (CGA CME), c) neither EB CME nor CGA CME but not dangerous or proven ineffective, d) dangerous or proven ineffective, CME credit eligibility for clinical content is defined according to these categories. EB and CGA CME are eligible for Prescribed or Elective credit. Clinical content that is neither EB nor CGA CME but not dangerous or proven ineffective is eligible for Elective credit only. Clinical content that is dangerous or proven ineffective is ineligible for CME credit.
In cases where educational, ethical, and medical standards are not adhered to, or where the criteria for alternative and complementary practices are not met, the AAFP Commission on Continuing Professional Development (COCPD) reserves the right to withhold or withdraw CME credit. (B1998) (2004)
