Hey there! If you’re part of the medical or technical staff in sleep medicine, it’s super important to stay updated with your continuing education requirements. Here’s a friendly rundown of what you need to know.
Accreditation Standards You Should Know About
- For Network and Site Directors: If you’re a director, you need to accumulate at least 30 credits annually, averaging 10 credits each year over the past three years, specifically in sleep medicine. It’s essential to keep documentation of your compliance. Good news for those who just finished a sleep medicine fellowship or got initial board certification—your CME requirement is waived for 36 months after your program ends.
- For Medical Staff Members: Similar to directors, medical staff must also earn a minimum of 30 credits per year (again, averaging 10 per year over three years) in AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits related to sleep medicine. If you’ve recently completed a fellowship or board certification, you get a 36-month break from this requirement, too! Just completed a formal training program within the last 12 months? Your credits will be prorated based on that program’s completion date.
- For Sleep Technicians and Technologists: If you’re working in diagnostic services (like in-lab testing or home sleep apnea testing), you need to earn at least 30 continuing education credits related to sleep over the past three years. Just like the others, you’ll need to document this. Proration based on your hire date is acceptable. And remember, each technician must be CPR certified, which is a separate requirement.
What You Need to Submit
- For Medical Staff: You’ll need to provide documentation that shows the date of your educational session, who provided it, and how many credits you earned. Make sure those credits are focused on sleep medicine topics. If you’re submitting credits from broader educational providers, you’ll need to back that up with proof that it’s relevant to sleep medicine.
- For Technical Staff: Similar rules apply—document your sessions with the same details and ensure they’re sleep-related.
Key Reminders to Keep in Mind
- For physicians, you must have those 30 CME credits ready when you submit, regardless of when you were hired. Advanced practice providers can have their credits prorated.
- Non-sleep medicine topics don’t cut it for compliance. If you’re submitting on medication topics, they need to relate specifically to treating sleep disorders.
- If you’re a physician who just finished a fellowship, enjoy that 36-month waiver! But keep in mind that board certification in other specialties won’t exempt you from CME requirements.
- If you conduct educational sessions at your facility, just maintain a roster to document objectives and attendance signed off by your Site Director. And do keep that CME documentation accessible for any site verification.
For Sleep Technicians and Technologists
Your continuing education credits need to be in sleep-related topics. CPR certification doesn’t count towards these credits. Just like with medical staff, your CEC requirements can be prorated based on your hire date. And don’t forget, the A-STEP 80-hour introductory course is worth 1 CEC, and completing modules through the online A-STEP program can earn you additional credits.
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So there you have it! Staying compliant with your continuing education doesn’t have to be daunting. Just keep these guidelines in mind, and you’ll be all set.