Course Approvals
Accreditation
Physicians
"The Advanced Health Education Center, Ltd. is accredited by the
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to sponsor continuing
medical education for physicians."
Ultrasound courses provided in the Houston Center are designated for AMA
Category 1¢â Continuing Medical Education. AMA PRA Category
1 Credits ¢â is available for other specialty activities. Please check course
descriptions for designation statements for AMA PRA Category 1¢â Credits. Physicians
should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in
the activity.
The Emergency Department Ultrasound/Point of Care Ultrasound program is
approved by the American College of Emergency Physicians for 16 hours of ACEP
Category 1 credit.
The Advanced Emergency Department Ultrasound/Advanced Point of Care program is
approved by the American College of Emergency Physicians for 8 hours of ACEP
Category 1 credit.
The Ultrasound Guided Venous/PICC Line Access program is approved by the
American College of Emergency Physicians for 8 hours of ACEP Category 1 credit.
Sonographers
Ultrasound courses provided in the Houston Center are designated for AMA
Category 1¢â Continuing Medical Education. The ARDMS (American
Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers) accepts Category 1 CME. Some of
the ultrasound courses are also approved for SDMS (Society of Diagnostic
Medical Sonographers) credit. Please check the course description approval
designation.
*** Please note if you a sonographer attending a diagnostic CE course to
fulfill your ARDMS CE requirements, please contact AHEC prior to registering
for the course. AHRA approval is not accepted by ARDMS. In some cases Category
1 CME may be available for the course you are interested in attending.
Diagnostic
Radiology
All other courses offered by AHEC are approved by a Recognized Continuing
Education Evaluation Mechanism (RCEEM), AHRA (The Association for Medical
Imaging Management) or ASRT (American Society of Radiologic Technologists).
Courses are approved in states with independent approval requirements if the
course is being presented in that state.
Nurses
Advanced Health Education Center is approved by the California Board of
Registered Nursing, Provider No. CEP16406.
Each course approved for nursing credit is thoroughly reviewed for course
content and validity relevant to the practice of nursing. All designated
courses are developed and provided by faculty who are credentialed medical
professionals with knowledge and experience in the course subject matter.
Designated courses have clearly stated course descriptions and objectives to
inform participants in advance what they can expect to learn and the duration
(contact hours) of each of approved course. All AHEC policies for the participant
regarding course registration, cancellation/refunds and retention of records
are clearly communicated to the learner prior to completion of the activity.
Nursing approval is available for AHEC's ultrasound, bone densitometry, and
radiation safety training courses (*required by some states for bone
densitometry and operation of fluoroscopic xray equipment), and designated home
study courses for fulfilling general continuing education requirements. Other
courses may be approved for Nursing Continuing Education.
Disclosure of
Relevant Financial Interest for Individuals in Control of Content
As a provider accredited by the ACCME, Advanced Health Education Center, Ltd
ensures balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its
sponsored educational activities.
In addition to the identified CME faculty member for an educational activity,
all non-faculty, including committee members and administrative personnel
involved in the planning, development or production of the sponsored activity
and/or authorship or review of enduring materials do not have any relevant
financial interest to disclose. Financial interest includes but is not limited
to relationships with commercial companies, manufacturers, or corporations,
whose products or services are related to the subject matter of the
presentation within the prior 12 months.
The individuals listed below are acknowledged by AHEC as having control of
the content, planning, development or administrative support of all educational
activities.
AMA
PRA Credit and Classification Guidelines
The American Medical Association has an established system of classification to
be used by accredited providers that conduct programs in new procedures and
designate them for the PRA. These levels should assist the physician to know
precisely what they will learn in the coursework.
Level 1 and 2 will be satisfied for all entry-level physician ultrasound
courses. This attests that the physician has attended the course and met the
specified learning objectives for the procedures included in the course.
Successful completion of the course will verify the physician is now
"proctor ready" which enables the physician to perform the procedures
under proctor supervision. The proctor should be an experienced physician in
ultrasound or a sonographer. Each physician practice should set QA requirements
and number of procedures to be completed under supervision. Level 4 is achieved
at the completion of the required time or number of procedures and a QA review
verifies the physician¡¯s competence to perform the procedure without
supervision. Credentialing by the medical staff office of a hospital can then
be achieved.
Content Validation
All presentations designated for AMA PRA Category 1¢â are reviewed and
approved by members of the curriculum committee for content validity, and to
ensure that no conflicts of interest exist prior to the advertisement and delivery
of the educational activity.
Commerical Support
The presence or absence of Commercial Support for any CME activity will be
disclosed to the learner prior to the CME delivery.