Accreditation Success Story

Client

The Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) is the premier organization for surgeons and health care providers dedicated to advancing and promoting the science and treatment of cancer. The Society has more than 2,500 members and is growing rapidly each year.

Challenge

SSO is an accredited provider of continuing medical education (CME). Accreditation requirements have become increasingly complex. It is critically important to members that educational programming at the SSO Annual Meeting be of the highest quality, free from commercial bias, encompass both clinical management and cutting edge research, and be responsive to the educational needs of the surgical oncology community. Re-accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) is a vigorous process that is required every 2-4 years.

Action

Under EAI management, SSO conducts ongoing identification of practice gaps and related underlying educational needs which drive the design and development of the CME program. Based on an assessment of learners' needs, the educational formats, instructional methods, activity content and the measurement of changes in physician competence and performance were designed to meet current criteria. EAI's skilled CME professionals led SSO leadership through the myriad requirements necessary to obtain accreditation.

Results

ACCME reaccredited the SSO for a 4-year term. Accreditation from ACCME indicates SSO develops effective continuing medical education that meets members' needs, helps to improve the care of surgical oncology patients and advances the specialty. EAI's CME team also maintains ACCME accreditation for two other clients, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.