The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Receives Provisional ACCME Accreditation as a New Provider of Continuing Medical Education

HACKENSACK, NJ — JULY 26, 2010 — JUNE HALPER, MSCN, ANP, FAAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CONSORTIUM OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CENTERS (CMSC), is pleased to announce that the Consortium, based in Hackensack, NJ, has received its provisional accreditation as a provider of continuing medical education by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). ACCME accreditation means that CMSC can now certify educational activities for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ of the American Medical Association’s Physician’s Recognition Award (“AMA/PRA”). The AMA/PRA is utilized by state licensing boards and boards of medical specialties to re-license physicians and re-certify them in their areas of specialty.

According to national continuing medical education advisor, Steve Passin, president of Steve Passin & Associates, “CMSC’s entry into the ranks of accredited organizations in the United States places them among those medical educators in the country that have demonstrated their proficiency in the development of educational activities consistent with identified needs of the physician population and the multiple sclerosis community specifically.”

ACCME accreditation seeks to assure both physicians and the public that continuing medical education activities sponsored by CMSC meet the high standards of the Essentials Areas and Criteria for Accreditation of the ACCME. The ACCME rigorously evaluates the overall continuing medical education programs of institutions according to standards adopted by all seven sponsoring organizations of the ACCME: the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, the Association for Hospital Medical Education, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Council of Medical Specialty Societies, and the Federation of State Medical Boards. CMSC is pleased to be part of a group of organizations in the United States, including major medical schools, medical societies, hospitals and other medical education organizations that have been awarded this accreditation status.

Ms. Halper, in announcing this achievement to her staff, said “This acknowledgement of CMSC’s performance in practice demonstrates the meaning of our association’s motto, ‘We are building the future of MS Care.’” All of CMSC’s educational initiatives pass a rigorous peer review process under the aegis of the CME Program Committee.