Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) was surveyed in 2011 by the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) Focused Task Force on Accreditation and awarded accreditation for four years as a provider of continuing medical education for physicians. OSMA accreditation seeks to assure both physicians and the public that continuing education activities developed by LMH meet the high standards of the Essential Areas, Elements and Policies of accreditation as specified by the OSMA. LMH’s continuing medical education program was originally certified in 1975, making it the first institution to be accredited in Ohio.
The Hospital’s status as an accredited organization signifies that LMH has passed a series of rigorous standards for the provision of continuing medical education set by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Accreditation is determined through an extensive on-site, peer-based survey of the facilities and services. “This accreditation underscores Licking Memorial’s long-standing commitment to providing the highest quality continuing medical education programs to our physicians,” said Craig Cairns, M.D., M.P.H., Vice President Medical Affairs.
Physicians are required to complete at least 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years in order to keep their licenses current. In addition, 40 of those hours must be certified as American Medical Association Physician Recognition Award Category 1 CreditsTM, which are offered at LMH.
“We understand the importance of ensuring that our physicians are able to keep abreast of new technology, procedures and scientific findings in their field,” Dr. Cairns said. “Our status as an accredited organization offers our community a higher level of confidence in its healthcare service provider.”
The LMH CME program offers a variety of options including lectures, symposiums and cancer conferences to review the cases of oncology patients. Nationally recognized speakers were brought to LMH as part of the program, and numerous physicians and other healthcare providers participated in the program in 2010.