MRH Continuing Medical Education (CME) Program Helps Doctors Be Their Best

Montrose, CO: How do you nurture a love for learning in the name of providing top-notch medical care, and address the community’s most pressing health concerns? At Montrose Regional Health, there’s a program doing exactly that.

The Colorado Medical Society Committee on Professional Education and Accreditation recently awarded its highest accreditation level to the Continuing Medical Education (CME) program at Montrose Regional Health. This honor, “Accreditation with Commendation,” is awarded to CME programs that adhere to all 22 CME criteria of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education – with an emphasis on addressing community health issues.

“Accreditation with Commendation is a significant recognition,” says Julie Disher, who – as Director of the Medical Staff Services department at Montrose Regional Health – helps coordinate the program. “It is a credit to our medical staff – we’re very fortunate to have our providers’ dedication to quality healthcare in our community.”

To receive commendation, MRH had to demonstrate using CME as a tool to improve quality performance and health outcomes—utilizing provider’s insights and community input to address important issues, therefore improving the quality of care.

Topics recently addressed include Vaping, Opioids, Substance Abuse, and Addiction, Pulmonary Hypertension, Eating Disorders and Management of Thyroid Disease. In addition to meeting the educational needs of providers, the CME committee works with area agencies to develop educational opportunities to address community health concerns.

“One of the strengths of Montrose Memorial Hospital has been its Continuing Medical Education program, which has been exemplary for nearly the last 50 years,” notes Dr. Mike Benziger, Co-Director of Continuing Medical Education. “The CME Program is part of the foundation that helps our providers offer excellent patient care.”
MMH is one of only a few hospitals in the state of Colorado that require physicians to complete CME as part of their medical staff membership. Hospital officials say the program also helps with recruitment of new physicians, builds camaraderie amongst medical professionals, and disseminates important medical information to other providers in the community.

Montrose Regional Health’s CME program was first accredited in 1978 and holds the distinction of being the first program accredited in the state of Colorado. Over 100 hours of instruction are offered each year and includes formal lectures from a variety of medical specialists, case presentation conferences and videoconferencing with other institutions. Dr. Mike Benziger and Dr. Mike Brezinsky oversee the development of CME programs along with Julie Disher and Nancy Abel, with input from the hospital’s Continuing Medical Education Committee and the Fall Clinics Committee.

“We’re thankful for the dedication and leadership of our medical staff. Their commitment to the Continuing Medical Education program demonstrates to our community that our professionals are truly Friends & Family caring for Friends & Family,” said James Kiser, CEO of Montrose Regional Health.