Continuing Medical Education

Executive Summary

The American Academy of Family Practitioners is discussing implementation and "possible additions" to AMA's recently adopted CME guidelines. According to AAFP bylaws, the ethics and guidelines of AMA automatically become those of AAFP. At a two-day meeting in Kansas City June 18-19, AAFP sought input from industry, physician groups, and FDA on the current standards of CME. Participating in the open panel discussion was FDA Branch Chief, Drug Advertising Regulation Branch Kenneth Feather. He was joined by representatives from the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, ACCME, PMA, Burroughs- Wellcome, Marion Merrell Dow, and Upjohn. An AAFP spokesperson said that the committee "discussion was about whether XYZ activity was in line" with AMA guidelines. This was the first of two meetings on CME, which AAFP described as "the discovery phase." The committee's findings will be presented to AAFP's board of directors and guidelines will ultimately be ratified at AAFP's Congress of Delegates.