However, in several states, there are laws that do mandate a specific number of trauma CME hours for physicians working in trauma centers.

This then supersedes the ACEP policy. In Illinois there is also a specific number of pediatric-specific CME hours for physicians working in Emergency Departments Approved for Pediatrics, as well as Stand-by Emergency Departments Approved for Pediatrics. (While this facility recognition process is voluntary for the hospital, there are specific physician staffing requirements including that if you are ABEM, or AOBEM board certified that you do not require PALS.)

In Illinois the total number of CME hours is 50 hrs/year accrued over a 3 year period. These hours can be obtained in a number of ways: by taking a short course, doing on-line reading, attending annual meetings (such as the ACEP Scientific Assembly), or attending other CME courses.

The long and short of it is there are benefits for these “short courses.” It is a way to gain valuable up-to-date information, practice some skills, and obtain CME hours.

Dr. Fuchs is an emergency physician at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and a professor of Pediatrics at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago. She is an editor of APLS: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Course, 5th ed, a joint venture between ACEP and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Fuchs is also chair of The Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children Advisory Board.

References:

1. ACEP 2012 Policy Compendium. Accessed 6/25/12 at http://www.acep.org
2. 2009 EM Model Review Task Force: Perina DG, Beeson MS, Char DM, et al. The 2007 Model of Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine: The 2009 Update. Acad Emerg Med 2011;18(3);e8-e28
3. ACEP Clinical and Practice Management: Guidelines for Credentialing and Delineation of Clinical Privileges in Emergency Medicine. Accessed 7/1/12 at http://www.acep.org/content.aspx?id=29628
4. Advanced Trauma Life Support for Doctors, 8th ed. American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma, Fildes, J, chair. Chicago, American College of Surgeons, 2008.
5. American Board of Emergency Medicine, MOC Overview. Accessed 7/5/12 at https://www.abem.org/RAINBOW/portal/alias__Rainbow/lang__en-US/tabID__3422/DesktopDefault.aspx.

Emergency Medicine Training, Competency and Professional Practice Principles Position Statement ; Revised and approved by the ACEP Board of Directors January 2006; Originally approved by the ACEP Board of Directors November 2001

Emergency medicine is recognized as a specialty by the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Osteopathic Association. Responsibilities of specialty status include accrediting graduate medical education training programs and credentialing physicians as certified specialists. These responsibilities require creating standards for competency and defining professional practice principles.