As members of the education team, patients, families, caregivers, and other members of the public can increase the relevance, meaning, and impact of CME. Patients, for example, often become experts in their condition, closely observe clinicians and the practice environment, and experience the intimacy of clinical encounters. Through sharing their experiences, they can provide essential feedback and can guide educators and clinicians in meeting their needs and priorities.

That’s why we included Criterion 24 in the Menu of Criteria for Accreditation with Commendation. Criterion 24 recognizes providers that incorporate patient and/or public representatives as planners and faculty in planning and delivery of CME. Here are resources to help you meet the expectations of Criterion 24.

Webpages

Criterion 24: Rationale, critical elements, and standards for Criterion 24

Criterion 24 FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Criterion 24

Compliance with Criterion 24: Examples of CME provider practices that demonstrate compliance and noncompliance with Criterion 24

Publications

Learning Together: Engaging Patients as Partners in Accredited Continuing Medical Education — Report from the ACCME 2019 Meeting: Report summarizing the Learning Together sessions from the ACCME 2019 Meeting, including strategies and tips to assist CME providers in developing patient-partner initiatives in their educational programs

12 Tips for Engaging Patients in CME: PDF outlining tips for providers getting started with including patients and/or their representatives in CME

Message from Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, President and CEO, ACCME: PDF describing the value of building meaningful inclusion of patients by focusing on the learning environment

Video Resources

Criterion 24: Patient/public representatives are engaged in the planning and delivery of CME: An overview of Criterion 24 by Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, ACCME President and CEO

Engaging Patients in CME: Perspectives from patients, advocates, physicians, and educators about how to involve patients in CME

Podcast

Coffee with Graham: Engaging Patients in CME: In this podcast episode, ACCME's President and CEO, Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, talks to host Melissa Simmons about engaging patients in CME. 

Additional Resources

Insights on learning and outcomes from the "Engaging Patients in Clinical Education" 2017 Stanford Medicine X pre-conference workshop video featuring Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, President and CEO, ACCME

“Developing the role of patients as teachers: literature review,” BMJ, Geoff Wykurz and Diana Kelly

“Involving Patient in Medical Education,” BMJ, Amanda Howe and Janie Anderson

“’Nothing about us without us,’—patient partnership in medical conferences,” BJM, Larry F Chu, Audun Utenge, Bassam Kadry, Sarah E Kucharski, Hugo Campos, Jamia Crockett, Nick Dawson, and Kevin A. Clauson

“Patients as teachers: promoting their authentic and autonomous voices,” The Clinical Teacher, Angela Towle and William Godolphin