ABC’s CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM RECEIVES EXEMPLARY ACCREDITATION STATUS

Atlanta (December 6, 2005) – The Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc. (ABC) was recently granted Accreditation with Commendation and a six (6) year term of exemplary accreditation as a provider of continuing medical education for physicians by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). The ABC became an accredited provider of continuing medical education in 1995, and has maintained full accreditation for ten years. The 6-year term is the highest rating achievable by a CME provider.

ACCME accreditation seeks to assure physicians, the public, and the CME community that continuing medical education activities meet the criteria for compliance with the ACCME’s Essential Areas, Elements and Policies. The ACCME rigorously evaluates continuing medical education programs of institutions according to standards adopted by its seven sponsoring organizations: the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, the Association for Hospital Medical Education, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Council of Medical Specialty Societies, and the Federation of State Medical Boards.

The ABC’s award decision was based on 1) the self-study report submitted by the ABC, which assessed the organization’s overall commitment to providing outstanding medical education, implementing best practices, identifying areas for improvement, and charting the future direction of the CME Program; 2) evidence that rules of compliance with ACCME’s Essential Areas, Elements and Policies were met; and 3) the on-site visit, which included interviews with ABC executives and staff and ACCME surveyors.

Exemplary status was achieved in the accreditation process because the ABC consistently exceeded the criteria set forth in the ACCME’s Essential Areas, Elements and Policies. Some of the Essential Areas noted as outstanding included, a forward-thinking mission statement, which placed a strong emphasis on enhancing physician and other health care providers’ training and influencing their behavior for the purpose of improving health outcomes; the use of innovative and creative planning processes; consistent use of needs assessment data and evaluation tools to measure program effectiveness; and the establishment and involvement of a sound organizational framework.

Dr. Luther Clark, Consulting Medical Director for the ABC’s Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development (CCEPD) said, “this awarding of the maximum allowable period of full accreditation from the ACCME with commendation is both a testament to the outstanding quality of the ABC's educational programs and the dedicated commitment of its members and staff to insuring that our programs comply with the highest performance standards.”

For two decades, the ABC has been a provider of educational activities that are intended to improve patient care by maintaining, developing or increasing the skills, knowledge and professional performance of physicians and other health care providers. In the last year alone, the ABC reached more than 320,000 healthcare providers through its diverse educational programs which included conferences and symposia, web courses and enduring materials (clinical reference tools, newsletters, interactive audio CD-ROMs, supplements to major journals, special editorials and reviews).


About the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc.
Founded in 1974, the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc., is a nonprofit organization with an international membership of nearly 600 health care professionals. The ABC is dedicated to eliminating the disparities related to cardiovascular disease in all people of color. Today, the ABC's public and private partnerships continue to increase our impact in communities across the nation. The Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc. is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and has successfully recruited investigators and subjects for numerous clinical trials including hypertension, lipids and heart failure.