Continuing Medical Education - Mission
 

Mission Statement
The mission of the UAMS College of Medicine Continuing Medical Education (CME) Program is to assist physicians in their pursuit of life-long learning for the purpose of providing high quality health care.  This is accomplished by offering educational opportunities that support physicians' improvement in their competence in patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice.

Means and Purpose
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is the sole academic medical center in the state of Arkansas.  It consists of five colleges and a graduate school sharing a common mission:  to teach, to heal, to search, and to serve the healthcare needs of the people of Arkansas.  The College of Medicine's CME Program is central to this broad mission.  The major purpose of the CME Program is dissemination of state-of-the-art, evidence-based education that will allow practicing physicians opportunities to maintain and enhance their knowledge and skills, and in the process, reaffirm their professional commitment to the provision of excellent health care.   

Content Areas
The content of CME activities produced by the UAMS College of Medicine (COM) is determined and initiated by the College of Medicine faculty and through joint sponsor relationships with other organizations including state health agencies, community and regional hospitals, and medical professional societies whose own missions are aligned with that of the UAMS College of Medicine. CME activities are developed based on needs assessment data to ensure that activities present current, state-of-the-art, evidence-based information in order to improve physician competence, performance and/or patient outcomes in Arkansas.

Target Audience
Educational activities are designed for practicing physicians whose work crosses the continuum of primary care, specialty care, and tertiary care.  Other health care professionals are welcomed to activities appropriate to their needs for education at the physician level.  These activities draw participants from local, regional, national and international geographic areas.

Types of Activities Provided
The CME Program offers a broad spectrum of educational activities using a range of instructional methods including didactic lectures, symposia, demonstrations, interactive workshops, case-based conferences, interactive video conferences, and self-directed learning materials (e.g., enduring materials such as Internet activities, instructional videotapes, CDs, and printed documents). The UAMS College of Medicine CME Program is committed to exploring new initiatives and opportunities in education to enhance the overall program and encourage development of Performance Improvement and other innovative approaches to physician CME learning activities.

Expected Results of the Program
The CME activities approved by the Office CME will contribute to improved physician competence, performance, and enhanced health care outcomes for Arkansans.