What’s a CME anyway?

Like most professions, doctors are required to continue training and learning even after they have finished their formal education. In fact, in the Hippocratic Oath we take, we promise to “respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.” This means doctors are committed to learning from the discoveries of our colleagues and sharing what we have learned from our practice and research with them as well.”

In many instances, we honor this commitment through participating in Continuing Medical Education (CME). By staying plugged into the latest treatments and research, we can consistently improve the quality of care we provide for our patients.

CME can take many forms. Many hospitals, especially those affiliated with universities and medical schools, host lecture series for physicians to attend. I have attended lectures at John Hopkins All Childrens’ Hospital and St. Anthony’s on a weekly basis for the past 40 years. AudioDigest is a popular CME service which I have used since their lectures were recorded on cassette tapes, in the 1980s. Now, they make it as easy as downloading an app. Doctors take a test before listening and after listening to the recorded lecture to pass and obtain CME credit. And, I subscribe to their services for Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, and Emergency Medicine.

Of course, there are always traditional professional conferences for doctors to grow in their area of practice, which I enjoy attending, and I also regularly read many medical journals. Additionally, while Florida only requires 20 hours of CME each year, I am one of the few doctors in the country to earn over 400 hours of CME credit each year since 1980. I am also proud that most recently I scored in the 97th percentile on my 10 year recertification exam for family medicine. As a Family Medicine specialist, I prioritize CME so that I can use my continued training to benefit my patients.