Overview of PI CME:

PI CME, or performance improvement continuing medical education, is an individualized long-term online tool that provides physicians with the opportunity to perform self-assessments of the current clinical care they provide to their patients, compare their current practice to established evidence-based guidelines and performance measures, and ultimately improve their professional practice and patient care outcomes by implementing changes based on performance gaps found from the self-assessment process. Our PI CME activities are based on the American Medical Association’s three-stage learning model for long-term performance improvement.

Our PI CME program guides physicians through all 3 stages and enables them to easily collect and enter data from their own practices using chart reviews and self-assessment surveys. A member of our QI staff will be available throughout the program to assist with any questions. For each stage completed, 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ can be earned, with a total of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ awarded if all 3 stages of PI CME are completed.

PI CME has 3 stages:

• Stage A: Self-assessment of current practice
  • Short survey evaluating knowledge, attitude, and competence
  • 10 patient chart reviews to be completed by physician, comparing current practice to established guidelines

    Completion of Stage A = 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

• Stage B: Development and implementation of improvement plan
  • Report provided by CME LLC to physician, summarizing stage A data and highlighting areas in need of improvement
  • Development and submission of improvement plan by physician, with approval from QI staff
  • Implementation of plan, with helpful reminders from CME LLC every 2 months

    Completion of Stage B = 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

• Stage C: Re-evaluation and reflection of practice changes
  • Re-evaluation of clinical management by completing another 10 patient chart reviews as in stage A, and comparing current versus prior performance
  • Report provided by CME LLC to physician, summarizing and comparing results from all stages
  • Summary completed by physician, with self-reflection and evaluation

    Completion of Stage A + Stage B + Stage C = 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

Our PI CME activities not only enable physicians to improve their own practices and patient health outcomes while earning CME credit, but they also meet the new requirements for maintenance of board certification.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
 

1. What is performance improvement CME?

   Performance improvement CME, or PI CME, is an individualized long-term process that provides physicians with the opportunity and tools to perform self-assessments of the current clinical care they provide to their patients, compare their current practice to established evidence-based guidelines and performance measures, and ultimately improve their professional practice and patient care outcomes by implementing changes based on performance gaps found from the self-assessment process.

2. How does our PI CME work?

   Our PI CME program guides physicians through all 3 stages and enables them to easily collect and enter data from their own practices using chart reviews and self-assessment surveys. A member of our QI staff will be available throughout the program to assist with any questions. For each stage completed, 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ can be earned, with a total of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ awarded if all 3 stages of PI CME are completed.

   PI CME has 3 stages:

   
   
   • Stage A: Self-assessment of current practice
     • Short survey evaluating knowledge, attitude, and competence
     • 10 patient chart reviews to be completed by physician, comparing current practice to established guidelines

       Completion of Stage A = 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

   • Stage B: Development and implementation of improvement plan
     • Report provided by CME LLC to physician, summarizing stage A data and highlighting areas in need of improvement
     • Development and submission of improvement plan by physician, with approval from QI staff
     • Implementation of plan, with helpful reminders from CME LLC every 2 months

       Completion of Stage B = 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

   • Stage C: Re-evaluation and reflection of practice changes
     • Re-evaluation of clinical management by completing another 10 patient chart reviews as in stage A, and comparing current versus prior performance
     • Report provided by CME LLC to physician, summarizing and comparing results from all stages
     • Summary completed by physician, with self-reflection and evaluation

       Completion of Stage A + Stage B + Stage C = 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

3. Why should I participate in PI CME?

   Our PI CME activities will enable you to improve your own individual practice and patient health outcomes, while at the same time allowing you to conveniently earn CME credits from your own office. PI CME is the most relevant type of CME activity for you and your patients and will also help you to meet the new requirements for maintenance of board certification.

4. How many CME credits can I earn by participating in PI CME?

   Physicians may earn 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ upon successful completion of each stage. Completion of all 3 stages (Stages A, B, and C) allows a physician to earn a total of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

5. How much time is involved if I participate in PI CME?

   Of course, the time spent on each stage will vary from physician to physician. We are providing the following estimates to help you plan your participation.

   • Stage A: 2-4 hours
   • Stage B: 1 hour, not including time spent implementing plan
   • Stage C: 2-4 hours
6. PI CME activities are available for what specific clinical conditions?

   The specific clinical conditions for which our PI CME activities are currently available are depression and schizophrenia.

7. What are the new maintenance of board certification requirements for psychiatrists?

   As of May 6, 2009, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) describes 4 components for maintenance of certification (MOC). These are:

   1. Professional Standing
   2. Self-Assessment and Lifelong Learning
   3. Cognitive Expertise
   4. Performance in Practice
   
   We have designed our PI CME program to be in compliance with the Clinical Modules portion of part 4 of the ABPN MOC. Additional information regarding the ABPN MOC program for psychiatry can be found at http://www.abpn.com/moc_psychiatry.htm
   
   
8. Is PI CME HIPAA compliant since patient charts are used?

   Yes, all patient data collected from chart reviews are anonymous and therefore HIPAA compliant.

If you have any questions about how to get started with PI CME or have questions during any of the PI CME stages, CME LLC’s Quality Improvement staff is available to help you, contact us.