DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

(Podiatric Medical Board)

[Filed October 4, 2022, 9:56 a.m., effective November 4, 2022]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: WAC 246-922-300 Podiatric continuing education required and 246-922-310 Categories of creditable podiatric continuing education activities. The podiatric medical board (board) adopted amendments to WAC 246-922-300 and 246-922-310 concerning continuing medical education (CME) requirements for podiatric physicians.

The adopted rule amendments include acceptance of maintenance of specialty board certification as meeting the full 100-hour CME requirement; clarification on how participation in residency training qualifies for CME; and clarification that CME activities may be completed through either in-person, by remote attendance, or interactive online or prerecorded courses. The board also adopted changes to the numbers of hours required or allowed in the various categories of CME and added additional options to the activities recognized under Category 3.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-922-300 and 246-922-310.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.22.015.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 22-14-103 on July 5, 2022.

Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: A typographical edit was made to the rule in response to public comment. The term "continuing education" was updated to "continuing medical education" in WAC 246-922-300(2).

A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Susan Gragg, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4941, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email podiatric@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: August 11, 2022.

DJ Wardle, DPM, Chair

Podiatric Medical Board

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 16-01-106, filed 12/16/15, effective 10/1/17)

WAC 246-922-300Podiatric continuing medical education required.

(1) ((The board encourages podiatric physicians and surgeons to deliver high-quality patient care. The board recognizes that continuing education programs designed to inform practitioners of recent developments within podiatric medicine and relative fields and review of various aspects of basic professional education and podiatric practice are beneficial to professional growth.)) The board requires ((participation))a licensed podiatric physician and surgeon to participate in podiatric continuing medical education as a mechanism to maintain and enhance competence and stay informed of recent developments within podiatric medicine and related fields.

(2) A podiatric physician and surgeon must complete ((one hundred))100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and comply with ((chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7))WAC 246-12-170 through 246-12-240 and WAC 246-922-310.

(3) To satisfy the continuing medical education requirements identified in subsection (2) of this section, a podiatric physician and surgeon may:

(a) Serve as a resident in an approved postgraduate residency training program; ((or))such individuals shall be credited 50 hours for each year of training completed during their continuing medical education cycle;

(b) Certify or recertify within the previous four years with a specialty board recognized by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME); or

(c) Meet the requirements for participation in a maintenance of certification program for a specialty board recognized by the CPME.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 16-01-106, filed 12/16/15, effective 10/1/17)

WAC 246-922-310Categories of creditable podiatric continuing medical education activities.

To meet the requirements of WAC 246-922-300, a podiatric physician and surgeon shall earn continuing medical education in the following board-approved categories; such activities may be obtained through in-person or remote attendance, or through interactive online or prerecorded courses:

(1) Category 1 - A minimum of ((fifty))40 hours; however, all ((one hundred))100 credit hours may be earned in this category. Category 1 activities include:

(a) Scientific courses or seminars approved, offered, or sponsored by the American Podiatric Medical Association and its component societies and affiliated and related organizations; ((and))

(b) Scientific courses or seminars offered or sponsored by entities such as the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgery, the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, or the American Physical Therapy Association when offering or sponsoring continuing medical education programs related to podiatric medicine; and

(c) Scientific courses or seminars accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education or the Accrediting Council for Continuing Medical Education.

(2) Category 2 - A maximum of ((fifty))50 hours. Category 2 activities include courses or seminars related to health care delivery offered or sponsored by entities such as nonprofit organizations, other proprietary organizations, and individuals when offering or sponsoring continuing medical education in health care delivery.

(3) Category 3 - A maximum of ((fifty))60 hours. Category 3 credit hours and activities include:

(a) Up to ((twenty))30 hours through teaching, lecturing, and publishing in a peer-reviewed, scientific journal or textbook;

(b) Up to ((twenty))30 hours through online prerecorded or remote-attended study and programs not otherwise specified in subsection (1) or (2) of this section;

(c) Up to ((twenty))30 hours through self-study including, but not limited to, specialty board examination preparation, reading books, papers, and publications, participating in journal clubs, or viewing or attending exhibits; and

(d) Up to ((thirty))30 hours for participation ((on a staff committee for quality of care or utilization review)) in a health care institution or government agency((, such as serving on a hospital)):

(i) Peer-review committee;

(ii) Staff committee for subjects including, but not limited to, quality of care, utilization review, credentialing, bylaws, and medical records;

(iii) Surgical privilege credentialing to include proctoring activity; or

(iv) Serving as a board member on the podiatric medical board.

(4) One contact hour is defined as a typical ((fifty-minute))50-minute classroom instructional session or its equivalent.

(5) The board will not give prior approval for any continuing medical education. The board will accept any continuing medical education that reasonably falls within these regulations and relies upon the integrity of each individual podiatric physician and surgeon to comply with these requirements.