Welcome

Welcome to the Lurie Children's Continuing Education and Professional Development Plan an Educational Activity resource.

This site provides educational planners, course authors, and program coordinators with the tools, templates, guidance, and support needed to successfully plan, develop, implement, and evaluate educational activities at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

Whether you are planning an accredited continuing education activity, an Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) activity, or a professional development program, this site will guide you through each stage of the activity development process, from needs assessment and planning to implementation, evaluation, and outcomes reporting.

All educational activities planned through Lurie Children’s Continuing Education and Professional Development must comply with applicable Lurie Children's policies and procedures and, when continuing education credit is offered, relevant accreditation requirements. Individuals involved in planning and developing educational activities are responsible for reviewing and adhering to all applicable organizational, regulatory, and accreditation requirements.

Getting Started

Whether you are planning an accredited continuing education activity, an Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) activity, or a professional development program, the following steps will help you successfully develop and implement your educational activity.

1. Complete Education

All individuals responsible for planning or developing educational activities must complete the Foundations of Accredited Education Planning course before requesting Course Author access in EthosCE.

• Resources: Foundations of Accredited Education Planning

2. Request Course Author Access

After completing the required education, submit the EthosCE Course Author Access Request Form to obtain permissions needed to create and manage activities in EthosCE.

• Resources: Course Author Access Request Form

3. Review Planning Timelines

Educational activities require adequate time for planning, review, approval, promotion, and implementation. Review planning timelines before selecting your activity date.

• Resources: Educational Activity Planning Timeline

Planning an Educational Activity

High-quality educational activities begin with thoughtful planning. Educational planners, course authors, and program coordinators share responsibility for ensuring activities are designed to address identified learning needs and support improvements in professional practice, healthcare team performance, and patient outcomes.

Step 1: Complete the Activity Application

The activity application serves as the foundation of the educational planning process and is completed in EthosCE, the official platform for planning, managing, delivering, and evaluating educational activities.

• Resources: Activity Application

Step 2: Identify the Educational Need

Educational activities should address a documented professional practice gap, educational need, or opportunity for improvement.

The educational need should be supported by data, feedback, performance measures, quality initiatives, regulatory requirements, or other evidence demonstrating the need for education.

Step 3: Define Desired Outcomes

Determine what learners should know, demonstrate, or improve as a result of participating in the activity.

Desired outcomes should align with the identified educational need and support improvements in professional practice, healthcare team performance, or patient outcomes.

Step 4: Select the Activity Type

Choose the activity type and delivery format that best supports the identified educational need, target audience, and desired outcomes.

Activity type selection may impact planning requirements, review timelines, accreditation considerations, and documentation requirements.

Step 5: Build the Planning Team

Identify the individuals responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating the educational activity, including educational planners, faculty, presenters, content reviewers, and program coordinators, as appropriate.

For activities seeking Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) designation, planning teams should include representatives from two or more professions reflective of the intended learner audience.

Required Documentation:

• Disclosure of Financial Relationships and Speaker Agreement
• Faculty Biography Form
• Presentation Content Review and Attestation Form

Additional Documentation (If Applicable)

Additional documentation may be required based on the activity type, funding source, identified financial relationships, or accreditation requirements:

• Conflict of Interest Review and Mitigation Documentation

Step 6: Develop a Budget and Funding Plan

Develop a budget that identifies anticipated expenses and revenue sources associated with the educational activity. Budget considerations may include registration fees, commercial support, sponsorships, speaker expenses, meeting space, technology platforms, educational materials, marketing, and other activity-related costs.

For activities that charge registration fees or receive external financial support, appropriate approvals, documentation, and financial processes must be established prior to opening registration or accepting funds.

Resources

• Activity Budget Template
• Commercial Support Request Form
• Commercial Support Agreement

Target Audience

Educational activities should be designed for healthcare professionals and members of the healthcare team whose roles, responsibilities, and practice needs align with the identified educational objectives and intended outcomes.

Educational Activity Review and Approval

All educational activities must be reviewed and approved prior to promotion, registration, credit designation, or delivery.

Before submitting an activity for review, ensure that:

✅ Planning team members have been identified

✅ Required disclosure forms have been completed and submitted

✅ Faculty biographies have been submitted

✅ Conflict of interest mitigation has been completed, when applicable

✅ Commercial support documentation has been submitted, when applicable

✅ All required activity information has been entered into EthosCE

✅ Supporting documentation has been uploaded

Marketing and Promotional Materials

All promotional and marketing materials for educational activities must be reviewed and approved prior to distribution. Marketing materials must comply with applicable Joint Accreditation requirements, including the appropriate use of accreditation and credit designation statements, as well as Lurie Children's policies, procedures, branding standards, and review processes. Joint Accreditation requires accredited providers to use approved accreditation statements and provider marks appropriately in educational and marketing materials.

Promotional materials must include approved accreditation and credit designation language, when applicable, and may not imply endorsement of any commercial product, service, company, or organization.

Required Review and Approval

All promotional materials must be reviewed and approved by the Continuing Education and Professional Development team prior to distribution to ensure compliance with accreditation requirements. Additional review and approval by Marketing and Communications may be required in accordance with Lurie Children's branding, communications, website, signage, recording, and promotional material requirements.

Educational planners are responsible for ensuring that marketing and promotional materials comply with applicable Joint Accreditation requirements and Lurie Children's branding, communications, website, signage, recording, non-endorsement, and privacy requirements prior to publication or distribution.

Before Submitting Materials for Review

Verify that:

✅ The activity title matches the approved activity application.

✅ The Joint Accreditation Statement is accurate and current.

✅ The IPCE Credit Designation Statement is accurate when applicable.

✅ The Joint Accreditation Provider Mark is used appropriately and in accordance with Joint Accreditation requirements.

✅ Credit information is accurate.

✅ Commercial support disclosures are included when applicable.

✅ Materials do not imply endorsement of any commercial product, service, company, or organization.

✅ Use of the Lurie Children's name, logo, trademarks, and branding elements complies with organizational requirements.

✅ Website, social media, signage, photography, video, and promotional content comply with applicable Lurie Children's policies and procedures.

Marketing Resources

Marketing requests should be submitted through the official Lurie Children's Marketing Request process.

Internal Resources

• Marketing Project Request Form (Lurie Children’s Marketing)
• Joint Accreditation & IPCE Statements and Provider Mark Template

External Resources

• Submit marketing and promotional materials for review via email: [email protected].
• Continuing Education and Professional Development: [email protected] for accreditation-related review questions

Required Marketing Material Elements

Marketing and promotional materials should include the following information, as applicable:

✅ Activity title

✅ Date and time

✅ Location and/or activity format (live, virtual, hybrid, enduring)

✅ Target audience

✅ Registration information

✅ Joint Accreditation Statement

✅ IPCE Credit Designation Statement, when applicable

✅ Applicable credit information

✅ Joint Accreditation Provider Mark, when applicable

✅ Commercial support disclosure, when applicable

✅ Contact information for questions

Marketing materials must accurately represent the educational activity and comply with Joint Accreditation requirements and Lurie Children's branding, communications, non-endorsement, privacy, and promotional material requirements.

Outcomes Evaluation

Evaluation is an important component of educational planning and helps determine the effectiveness of an activity.

Following completion of an activity, educational planners, course authors, and program coordinators should:

• Review learner evaluation data
• Assess achievement of learning objectives and desired outcomes
• Identify opportunities for improvement
• Analyze available outcomes data
• Apply findings to future educational activities and quality improvement efforts

Outcomes Evaluation

Evaluation is an important component of educational planning and helps determine the effectiveness of an activity.

Following completion of an activity, educational planners, course authors, and program coordinators should:

• Review learner evaluation data
• Assess achievement of learning objectives and desired outcomes
• Identify opportunities for improvement
• Analyze available outcomes data
• Apply findings to future educational activities and quality improvement efforts

Accreditation & IPCE Resources

The following resources provide guidance on Joint Accreditation, IPCE requirements, and accreditation standards.

Required Resources

• Joint Accreditation Criteria
• Joint Accreditation FAQs
• Joint Accreditation Framework
• Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education
• ACCME Eligibility Requirements
• Definition of an Ineligible Company

Additional Resources

• Joint Accreditation Website
• Joint Accreditation Glossary
• Joint Accreditation Provider Mark and Usage Guidance

Lurie Children's Accreditation Templates

• Accreditation and Credit Designation Statement Templates
• Joint Accreditation Provider Mark and Usage Guide