Guidelines for Joint Sponsorship

The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Division of Postgraduate Education, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing medical education activities for physicians. The ACCME requires the accredited sponsor to accept responsibility that the Essential Areas and Policies are met when educational activities are planned and presented in joint sponsorship with non-accredited sponsors.

The accredited sponsor must be able to show with written documentation that each sponsored CME activity was planned and implemented in compliance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the ACCME.

The following guidelines are designed to assist organizations requesting the services of the Division of Postgraduate Education to develop a joint sponsored activity.

Steps to Joint Sponsorship

• Develop Course Content (9-12 months prior to activity)

A needs assessment must be performed, identifying a need for the activity/topic and indicating how the need was determined. The target audience must be identified. Educational objectives must be stated, indicating what participants should know or be able to do as a result of participating in the activity. (These objectives must also be stated in the brochure.)

• Contact Division of Postgraduate Education (9-12 months prior to activity)

An activity outline will be presented to the appropriate clinical department at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita for endorsement and cooperation. The activity will be assessed by the Director of Postgraduate Education and/or the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs with approval based on the Mission Statement of the Division. Activity must be at least four (4) hours in length.

• Planning and Development (9-12 months prior to activity)

A planning committee should be formed including representatives from the Division of Postgraduate Education as well as each target group.

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• Promotion (6-12 months prior to activity)

The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Division of Postgraduate Education, should assume responsibility for the activity and this should be clearly indicated on the promotional materials and printed programs. All publicity must be approved by the Division of Postgraduate Education prior to publication and dissemination. A statement of credit designation must be printed exactly as follows:

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita and _______________________________. The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita designates this educational activity for a maximum of ____ hours in category 1 credit toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the activity.

• Finalizing Service Contract (6-8 months prior to activity)

A projected budget should be prepared by the planning committee. A Service Contract will be made between the Division of Postgraduate Education and the joint sponsor. The contract addresses responsibilities of each organization, administrative fees, reimbursement of direct expenses, certificate fee structure and outside financial support, which must meet current ACCME and AMA guidelines. All financial support associated with this activity must be given with the full knowledge and approval of the Division of Postgraduate Education. Educational grants must be made payable to the Division of Postgraduate Education, unless other arrangements are agreed upon with the Division of Postgraduate Education. Two original contracts are required. KUSM-W legal counsels reviews all contracts before the Division of Postgraduate Education can proceed.

• Implementation

The activity must have daily sign-in sheets for participants, an activity evaluation and printed certificates of attendance.

• Review (2-3 months following the activity)

Representatives from the organizing committee and the Division of Postgraduate Education should meet to review the activity. Various outcome reports will be available including evaluation results, marketing reports (statistics regarding participants, etc.), attendance rosters and recommendations for future activities. A final budget detailing all activity expenses and revenues should be presented to the Division of Postgraduate Education as soon as possible, but no later than three months following the activity.

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