The mission of the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) is to promote and advocate for optimal child, youth and family well-being, and access to quality healthcare while supporting our members. As such, ICAAP seeks to develop, maintain and/or increase the knowledge, skills, and professional performance of primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical specialists, pediatric surgical specialists, and other pediatric health professionals by providing them with the highest quality, most relevant and accessible educational experience possible.

Purpose and Goals

The ultimate goal of ICAAP’s CME program is to support life-long learning of participants so they may better identify their personal educational needs and design appropriate self-directed learning activities to meet those needs while implementing new skills in clinical practice. ICAAP’s CME program aims to provide relevant education for pediatric care providers to develop, maintain, and improve the necessary competencies, skills, and professional performance needed to provide high quality care for children. ICAAP establishes forums for the dissemination of information on current issues facing the specialty as a means for transmitting research and scholarly findings that affect the practice of pediatrics. ICAAP seeks to provide quality education that is relevant, accessible, and effective in addressing gaps in learning related to pediatric practice.

Content Areas

Because the practice of pediatrics is broad based, covering prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases relevant to children, the scope of the Chapter’s CME programs shall include clinical content specific to major primary care and subspecialty health concerns affecting the pediatric population. In addition, the CME programs shall address content related to basic science topics that underlie pediatric clinical practice. Finally, the program also considers legal, ethical, socio-economic, and practice management issues that complement and enhance the clinical curriculum. Education programs also support maintenance of certification, learning collaboratives, and quality improvement initiatives.

Target Audience

The primary audiences for ICAAP’s CME programs are primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, pediatric surgical specialists, and the pediatric health professionals who support them. Additionally, secondary audiences include family physicians who treat children, pediatric and family practice residents in training, other pediatric health professionals, and non-medical support staff who play important roles in the delivery of pediatric care.

Types of Activities

ICAAP CME activities are focused on providing training in multiple formats to meet physicians’ unique educational needs. ICAAP presents CME trainings through live presentations and enduring material. Examples include webinars, training conferences, and web-based presentations. ICAAP also supports and administers an eLearning Management System (LMS).

Expected Results

ICAAP requires that the content of CME activities provide balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor. Planning must be free of the influence or control of a commercial entity, and promote improvements or quality in healthcare. All recommendations in CME activities involving clinical medicine must be based on evidence accepted within the medical profession. Participants in ICAAP’s CME activities are expected to demonstrate increased knowledge of learning objectives and be able to apply this to performance in practice and quality improvement initiatives. Participants are also encouraged to state their intended practice changes as a result of the education. Programs are designed to encourage and support practice change to improve the health of children and families.

Policy Approval, Revision, and Reaffirmed Dates

• May 1, 2012 ICAAP Executive Committee
• June 1, 2014 ICAAP Executive Committee
• April 28, 2015 ICAAP CME QI Committee, Executive Committee
• January 23, 2017 ICAAP CME QI Planning Committee, February 1, 2017 ICAAP Executive Committee
• Reaffirmed January 24, 2018 ICAAP CME QI Committee
• Reaffirmed February 20, 2019 ICAAP CME QI Committee