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 ? Continuing Medical Education. AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ? is available for other specialty activities. Please check course descriptions for designation statements for AMA PRA Category 1? 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 ™ 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.
- Marilyn Sackett, M.Ed, RT (R), Committee Member
- AHEC: President/CEO
- No relevant financial interest to disclose
- Peggy Hoosier, M.Ed RT(R) (M) - Program Director
- AHEC: Chief Operating Officer
- No relevant financial interest to disclose
- Lesa Mohr, BSRS, RT (R) (QM) (BD) - Planning Committee
- AHEC: Vice President of Educational Services and Special Projects
- No relevant financial interest to disclose
- Debbie Robertson, BS, RDMS – Faculty
- No relevant financial interest to disclose
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 ™ 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.
