Thank You to Our CE Community; Provider Update Webinar on 12/15; Updates from BOC and CDR; Explore New JA-PARS

A Message from the Joint Accreditation Team

These past two years have illustrated the importance of science and the value of accredited continuing education in providing much-needed training during a global pandemic. Together, we’ve learned that the tenets of interprofessional collaborative practice, such as mutual respect and trust, are never more important than during a crisis. We thank our community of colleague accreditors and providers for your dedication to supporting clinicians and teams in delivering quality care during the pandemic and beyond. We hope that during this holiday season and in the coming year you are able to reconnect with loved ones and colleagues and experience the optimism and pride we feel for the IPCE community.

—Kathy Chappell, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN; Kate Regnier, MA, MBA; Dimitra Travlos, PharmD; Cofounders, Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education

News

PROVIDER UPDATE WEBINAR: DECEMBER 15

Our next Joint Accreditation Provider Update webinar will take place on Wednesday, December 15, from 1:00-2:30 pm CT. This semi-annual provider webinar is a great opportunity to share Joint Accreditation updates, review important information about accreditation expectations, and build our IPCE community of practice. All jointly accredited providers will receive connection information and the webinar agenda via email one week before the meeting. Please note that this event is open to jointly accredited providers only.

If you have any questions about the December Provider Update webinar, please email us at [email protected]. 

EXPLORE THE NEW, IMPROVED JA-PARS

We’re excited to share that the new, improved Joint Accreditation Program and Activity Reporting System (JA-PARS) launched earlier this month. Thank you to those who have logged in. If you haven’t done so already, we encourage you to log in and explore the new features. To help you get the most out of the new JA-PARS, we’ve produced how-to videos and we’re hosting a series of live webinars to answer your questions.

Getting Started 

• Watch this brief video for a tour. Please note that although the tour shows PARS, you’ll see the same functionality and features in JA-PARS.  
• Log in to JA-PARS as you usually do, with the same credentials, and click on JA-PARS to see the new interface and features.
• Your data has been migrated into the new JA-PARS—you do not need to re-enter any data. While there were some initial issues with data transfer, these issues have been resolved or will be resolved shortly. Learn more about how we migrated the data.
• If you notice any issues with your data or have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at [email protected]. We appreciate the inquiries we’ve received and have addressed issues that you’ve identified as quickly as we can. Thank you for your patience.

View the How-to Videos 

We’ve created a PARS channel on Vimeo. Please note that although most of the videos focus on PARS, you’ll see the same functionality and features in JA-PARS. Stay tuned—we’ll add more videos in the coming weeks. 

Sign up for a Webinar 

We’re hosting a series of live, weekly, topic-focused webinars to answer your questions. Learn more and register here.

More Resources 

We’ve updated our FAQ. For more information and resources, including instructions for year-end reporting, visit our new JA-PARS webpage.

Check Out the New CME Passport 

The new CME Passport, formerly CME Finder, displays any activities offering AMA PRA Category 1 or IPCE credit that providers choose to include, with expanded search functions. Physicians can create a personalized account to track and manage their CME. Learn more here.

Questions? 

We’re happy to help. Contact us at [email protected]. 

UPDATES FROM THE BOARD OF CERTIFICATION FOR THE ATHLETIC TRAINER (BOC) AND THE COMMISSION ON DIETETIC REGISTRATION (CDR) 

For jointly accredited providers that have elected to include athletic trainers in their target audience:

• With the launch of the new Joint Accreditation Program and Activity Reporting System (JA-PARS), you can now indicate that you are offering continuing education units (CEUs) for Athletic Trainers when you enter data about your activity, and you can also indicate athletic trainers in your learner counts.
• The BOC has provided a logo and credit statement to use for activities that offer CEUs to athletic trainers. Please refer to these instructions on awarding BOC CEUs. The BOC-AP logo and statement of credit can be downloaded here and here. Please use the logo and statement of credit from now on. You do not need to update any activity materials that are currently available or published.

For jointly accredited providers that have elected to include Registered Dietitians (RDs) and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTRs) in your target audience:

• The CDR has made a minor update to the instructions it provides to RDs and DTRs. The change affects how RDs and DTRs claim CEUs on their recertification cycles. Please refer to these instructions on awarding CPEUs and issuing certificates. CDR’s new credit statement for certificates can be downloaded here. Please use the new statement from now on. You do not need to update any activity materials that are currently available or published.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]. 

MARYLAND BOARD OF PHYSICIANS JOINS GROWING STATE MEDICAL BOARDS COLLABORATION 

We’re delighted to announce that the Maryland Board of Physicians (MBP) has joined our collaboration with state medical boards, a collaboration that also includes the boards in California, Maine, and North Carolina. With the launch of the new, improved JA-PARS earlier this month, jointly accredited providers whose learners include physicians now have the opportunity to report data in JA-PARS about physicians licensed in Maryland, as well as any other state, who have completed their CME activities.

Learn more about the MBP collaboration here and the new JA-PARS here.

Reminders for Jointly Accredited Providers   

ANNUAL ACCREDITATION FEES 2022-2023     

Thank you to those of you who have already submitted payment for your 2022 annual accreditation fees. As a reminder, in early November, we sent invoices via email for the annual fee, including any additional professions you selected. Payment will be due by January 31, 2022. Learn more and find the fee schedule here. 

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

IPCE Education and Resources 

STANDARDS RESOURCES TO SUPPORT YOUR TRANSITION 

On October 28, we hosted a public webinar to highlight our newly available Standards resources and answer your questions about successfully transitioning to the Standards for Integrity and Independence. The following new resources shared during the webinar are available to help you successfully transition to the Standards for Integrity and Independence: 

• Standards webinar recording, slide deck, and Q&A chat log
• Planning Guide for Independence in Accredited Continuing Education (PDF and PPT)
• Case Scenarios: When It Is Acceptable to Use Owners and Employees of Ineligible Companies in Accredited Continuing Education (Quiz, PDF, and PPT)
• Excel Spreadsheet for Documenting Individuals in Control of Content in the Performance-in-Practice Structured Abstract: Initial Accreditation and Reaccreditation

For more resources and information, visit our Standards resources webpage. 

SAVE THE DATE: ACCME 2022 MEETING—APRIL 26-28, 2022 

The ACCME 2022 Meeting will take place on April 26-28, 2022, in a hybrid format with opportunities for in-person and virtual participation. The meeting will include IPCE-related content, opportunities to share best practices with your colleagues, insight from healthcare education thought leaders, and more. Registration details will be available in early December—mark your calendar and stay tuned for more. 

FACILITATING FLEXIBILITY: THE ROLE OF CPD REGULATORS AND ACCREDITORS DURING A CRISIS 

In a new journal article, “”Facilitating Flexibility: The Role of CPD Regulators and Accreditors during a Crisis,”” published in the Journal of European CME, ACCME President and CEO Graham McMahon, MD, MMSc, discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on accredited education, including how Joint Accreditation responded to the evolving needs of the CE community. The full article is available here.