General Accreditation

Annual Meeting Mission
The AAO-HNS Foundation’s 2008 Annual Meeting program offers otolaryngologists and other interested health professionals a series of unique and dynamic educational experiences designed to broaden and enrich their understanding of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery and to provide a foundation for continued learning. The annual meeting’s program format, including scientific and translational & basic research sessions, instruction courses, mini-courses, and posters, will help participants maintain a continued awareness of accepted methods of diagnosis and treatment and will provide updates on new developments in the field. The General Competencies for Physicians (adopted by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the American Board of Medical Specialties)—medical knowledge, patient care, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, practice-based learning and improvement, and systems-based practice—will be addressed in presentations throughout the various sessions of the program.

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of the Annual Meeting, participants should be able to:

1. Apply knowledge of current issues affecting the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of otolaryngologic and related disorders;
2. Analyze research-based information and updates on practical applications affecting operative procedures, drugs, and medical devices;
3. Utilize improved practice management techniques to facilitate physician performance improvement; and
4. Translate into practice a broader understanding of the approaches used in the practice of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery in countries outside of the United States.

Continuing Medical Education Credit for Physicians
The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The AAO-HNSF designates this education activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

1. General scientific/translational & basic sessions hour/hour (maximum 14)
2. Instruction/mini-courses hour/hour (maximum 14)

Category 1 credit is awarded to physicians when documented by the submission of the appropriate evaluation form. These credits will be recorded on your official annual transcript that is issued in January 2009.

Credit Designation
The AAO-HNSF designates educational activities presented during the 2008 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.

The following educational activities ARE NOT designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit:

1. Instruction courses (mini-courses) that are marked "NO CME" in the program listing.
2. Scientific programs, including miniseminars, international symposia, and oral presentations that are marked "NO CME" in the program listing.
3. Honorary lectures, such as the John Conley Lectureship on Medical Ethics, Neel Distinguished Research Lectureship, Eugene N. Myers International Lectureship on Head and Neck Cancer, and the William F. House, MD Lectureship.
4. Scientific/Translational & Basic Research poster presentations.

Certificate of Participation for Non-Physicians
A Certificate of Participation can be printed from the online CME Pavilion upon completion of the evaluation form(s) for instruction courses and Scientific/Translation & Basic Research programs. This certificate is available as long as the online evaluation submission system is active.

Teacher Disclosure of Financial Relationships
The AAO-HNS Foundation endorses the guidelines for accredited continuing medical education as set forth in the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s Standards for Commercial Support and adheres to these standards in the conduct of its educational activities. The Foundation maintains control over the development of its educational activities and the selection of topics and presenters. A full disclosure of proprietary interests is submitted by all teachers and faculty members and the presence of any financial relationship with a commercial interest is reported to the program participants both in the program’s printed materials and at the presentation. In addition, teachers and faculty members will disclose their intent to discuss drugs or devices or the uses of drugs or devices that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Discussion of Unapproved and Off-label Use of Drugs and Medical Devices
The FDA restricts the type of information that may be disseminated by or on behalf of suppliers of drugs and medical devices with respect to regulated products, including information about unapproved uses of approved drugs and medical devices (off-label uses). The FDA does not regulate the practice of medicine, and therefore, does not prevent physicians from independently teaching, describing, performing, or prescribing off-label uses of drugs or medical devices. The FDA has also said that it is the responsibility of the physician to determine the FDA clearance status of each drug or medical device that he/she wishes to use in clinical practice.

Clinical Medicine Recommendations/Scientific Research Reporting
The AAO-HNS Foundation informs all teachers and faculty members and expects that:

1. All recommendations involving clinical medicine in a continuing medical education activity must be based on evidence that is accepted within the profession of medicine as adequate justification for the indications and contraindications in the care of patients; and
2. All scientific research referred to, reported, or used in continuing medical education in support or justification of a patient care recommendation must conform to generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and analysis.

Free Exchange of Medical Education
The AAO-HNS Foundation is committed to the free exchange of medical education. Inclusion of any presentation or exhibit in this program, including presentations or exhibits on drugs or devices or the uses of drugs or devices that have not been approved by the FDA, does not imply an endorsement by the AAO-HNS Foundation of the uses, products, or techniques presented.