title: CME: what's in it for patients? Alignment with outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  North Mississippi Medical Center's (NMMC) Continuing Medical Education (CME) Program in collaboration with the NMMC Outcomes Managers / quality staff have been able successfully to bridge the gap between identifying topic needs and intended results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Planning began almost six years ago to join CME Activities with patient outcomes opportunities. Under the leadership of the CME Committee Chairman, the CME Program was charged with tying identified needs to results. NMMC's Outcomes Leader worked closely with the CME Coordinator to develop a process of topic selection that would ensure a focus on improving patient outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NMMC CME Program recently received exemplary status on tying identified topic needs to intended results during their re-accreditation survey. The best result, however, is the data reflecting improvements in patient outcomes when CME has been a part of the process of improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Linkage of CME to patient outcomes demonstrates a priority of provider education and transparent measurement provides accountability for the Medical Staff as well as the CME Program.
authors.affiliation: North Mississippi Medical Center, USA. tracie.maxey@nmhs.net
authors.forename: Tracie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maxey-Conwill
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Englert
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bertolet
mesh_terms: D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D008922:Mississippi; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation