Grand rounds are an opportunity for medical professionals to engage in continuing education, often at their own workplace. Luckily, they typically qualify for CME credits, too.
If you’re curious about grand rounds and how they might work for you, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ll go over the definition of grand rounds, their pros and cons, and other ways to make the most of CME.
What Are Grand Rounds?
Grand rounds are a type of educational session held by hospitals, medical clinics and universities. In general, they occur regularly—usually weekly, monthly or quarterly.
You may hear it referred to as a type of “regularly scheduled series.” Regardless of the phrasing, grand rounds may focus on a variety of topics, including:
- Patient case examples
- New research and treatment updates
- Procedure and protocol reviews
- Medical education
The goal is to share knowledge that can change a physician’s behavior to improve patient outcomes. Additionally, grand rounds can qualify for CME credit if the presenting organization is ACCME-accredited.
Pros and Cons of Grand Rounds
As with many types of CME, there are plenty of pros and cons to review when deciding if you’d like to participate. Here are some things to consider when thinking about grand rounds for CME credits:
- Quality: The quality of the grand rounds will vary depending on the speaker or the topic itself. On the one hand, you might gain a lot of helpful information. On the other hand, low-quality presentations could leave you underwhelmed or confused.
- Convenience: Grand rounds are often a convenient way to earn CME credit, as your place of work (like a hospital) may host them. Many of these lectures are also available as webinars, making them easy to attend.
- Topics: The topics chosen are at the discretion of the presenters. That means you may receive limited information or learn about topics that are not as pertinent to your knowledge gaps. Meanwhile, other CME types may offer a broader range of topics.
In general, grand rounds can be a beneficial way to earn CME credits. That said, attending conferences or completing other activities can help you make the most of your CME experience.
Other CME Opportunities
It may be helpful to supplement grand rounds with additional CME. Other activities include:
- Enduring materials
- Medical journals
- Test-item writing
- Point of care CME
- Manuscript review
- Performance improvement CME
One of the most common types of CME is live activities, like conferences and workshops. As long as they’re from an ACCME-accredited provider, you can earn CME credits.
Live activities can be in-person or virtual, offering flexibility for busy professionals. Additionally, many CME conferences are held in vacation-worthy destinations to help you make the most of the experience.
Add in-person and online seminars to your CME calendar today to get started!