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Medical education
What are CME and CPD?
Continuing medical education (CME)
Continuing medical education (CME) is a formal scheme operated by the medical royal colleges in the UK. The purpose is to keep doctors up to date with their medical knowledge, including new diseases and treatment methods. Through CME, doctors are able to attend conferences and courses to update their knowledge and skills throughout all stages of their careers. In recognition of this continuing education, doctors are awarded accreditation points towards the CPD schemes of Royal Colleges. All doctors who attend CME events are expected to maintain a record of their activities, including the accreditation points awarded.
Continuing professional development (CPD)
Continuing professional development (CPD), is a process of lifelong learning for individuals and teams, which enables them to meet the needs of patients, deliver healthcare outcomes and at the same time maintain, expand and fulfil their own potential. It aims to ensure doctors are lifelong learners by identifying what their educational needs are and finding a way of meeting them. Strategies of meeting learning needs can include reflective practice, audit, portfolio development and multidisciplinary cooperation. The goal of CPD is the promotion of a culture in which doctors retain a curiosity about their subject. Ideally CPD should also provide recharging of the batteries, by allowing doctors time to discover and fulfil learning needs, increase job satisfaction, improve performance and increase self-esteem [reference 16]. Evidence of CPD may form the basis of revalidation. In its publication Tomorrow’s Doctors, the General Medical Council recommends that undergraduate curricula should foster the knowledge and understanding, attitudes and skills that will promote effective lifelong learning and support professional development.
Source: BMA website
