Enduring Materials – CME Policy (updated January 1, 2005)
 Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

Definition. An enduring material is a non-live CME activity that "endures" over time. It is most typically a videotape, monograph, or CD Rom. Enduring materials can also be delivered via the Internet. The learning experience by the physician can take place at any time in any place, rather than only at one time, and one place, like a live CME activity.

Enduring materials must comply with the All Events & Joint Sponsorship Policy plus all CME adopted ACCME Essential Areas and Elements (including the Standards for Commercial Support) and CME adopted Accreditation Policies. However, there are special communication requirements for enduring materials because of the nature of the activities. Because there is no direct interaction between the provider (Marshall) and/or faculty and the learner, the provider (Marshall or agent) must communicate the following information to participants so that they are aware of this information prior to starting the educational activity:

1. Principal faculty and their credentials;
2. Medium or combination of media used;
3. Method of physician participation in the learning process;
4. Estimated time to complete the educational activity (same as number of designated credit hours);
5. Dates of original release and most recent review or update; and
6. Termination date (date after which enduring material is no longer certified for credit).
7.  CME Logo + Accreditation Statement + Credit Designation Statement.
8.  Post Test + Evaluation

Review of Produced Enduring Material. Each enduring material must be reviewed at least once every three years or more frequently if indicated by new scientific developments. Time frame for  review and re-release of an enduring material is every three years (or more frequently), however, the enduring material cannot be certified for credit for more than three years without some review on the part of the provider/agent to ensure that the content is still up-to-date and accurate. That review date must be included on the enduring material, along with the original release date and a termination date.

To comply with the Standards for Commercial Support,

1. there must be no product specific advertising in enduring materials,
2. commercial support must be acknowledged in the enduring material,
3. this acknowledgement must be placed only at the beginning of an enduring material,
4. the institutional acknowledgement may state the name, mission, and areas of clinical involvement of the company or institution, and may include corporate logos and slogans, if they are not product promotional in nature,
5. no brand names or product-group messages may be used in the acknowledgement, even if they are not related to the topic of the enduring material.

Accredited providers (Marshall) may not enlist the assistance of commercial interests to provide or distribute enduring materials to learners.

CME policy requires 'post-tests' for enduring materials + Evaluation. CME records retention policies do, however, require participants to verify learner participation and evaluate all CME activities.

Enduring material from a live CME activity. When this occurs, two separate activities are created – one live activity and one enduring material activity. Both activities must comply with all CME Events Policies + CME adopted ACCME requirements, and the enduring material activity must comply additionally with all CME adopted ACCME policies that relate specifically to enduring materials.