Initial objective
The initial objective of the European Accreditation Committee (EAC) in the central nervous
system (CNS) focused on developing a true European perspective to CME in CNS (psychiatry,
neuropsycho- pharmacology, neurology): a pan-European dimension to education in CNS in
order to establish methodologies for the most effective forms of CME; to ensure that
common European educational standards can be developed; and to assist in promoting
education in CNS in European countries.As mentioned in the previous
issue of ecnp matters, EAC has been granted support from the European Union, within
the framework of the Leonardo da
Vinci Project (EUR/99/2091/1111b/ FBC, January 2000 - May 2000) of the European
Commission. The implementation of European accreditation by EAC can be considered as a
major achievement of this Leonardo project. It will facilitate the development of
guidelines and processes which should be adhered to in providing CME, and to ensure that
the required standards are being met by any organisation providing CME in CNS.
A country survey on CME systems in ten European countries shows that a high percentage of
respondents in all countries felt that a common European system of quality control for CME
in CNS was needed (between 76% and 86%). There is also a low percentage of people aware of
the system (33.3% for CME and 17.4% for CME specific to CNS disorders), implying that not
only a quality control system is needed, but also a system of promoting the existence of
CME for CNS disorders. Information on the project and EAC has been given in publications
in scientific journals, newsletters and on a special website. 
|
|
www.leonardo-eac.org
A website has been created (www.leonardo-eac.org)
in order to promote the concept of European CME in CNS. The website is also used by the
scientific community for on-line evaluations of congresses accredited by EAC.Network of assessors
Highly regarded CNS experts throughout Europe have accepted to collaborate with EAC. These
experts are well-informed of the requirements of CME so they can be called on to assess
scientific programmes of meetings, published course material and help to ensure that all
CME activities are validated. It is anticipated that in the course of developing CME in
CNS, great effort will be put into creating high quality learning packages which can be
accessed from home. These could come in any format: books, audiocassettes, CD-ROM's,
websites, videos... all accredited by EAC.
Scientific events' organisers, scientific societies, trainers and academies will be able
to submit a programme or educational product to be evaluated and accredited by EAC. The
EAC evaluation and accreditation will be implemented by selected independent experts who
form a network of assessors.
A standard evaluation procedure has been set up in order to properly analyse the opinion
of doctors or allied professionals on the events or material accredited by EAC.
For each event or product, analysis will be made for the scientific standard, the
educational standard, the relevance to clinical practice of the information prestented,
the ability to change clinical practice, and the overall excellence of the activity.
Daniel Souery & Julien Mendlewicz,
European Accreditation Committee
|
