Welcome Course Authors and Planners

The Course Author and Planner Center within the Lurie Children’s Learning Institute serves as the central resource for Course Authors, Educational Planners, and Planning Committees responsible for developing Accredited education activities at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

The Lurie Children’s Learning Institute supports the development of high-quality, evidence-based educational activities designed to improve professional practice, healthcare team performance, and patient outcomes. This site provides the training, tools, resources, and guidance needed to successfully plan, develop, implement, and evaluate accredited education activities in EthosCE.

Getting Started

Complete Required Training

Before requesting Course Author access, all individuals must complete the Foundations of Accredited Education Planning Course. Successful completion of this course is required prior to receiving Course Author permissions in EthosCE.

The course provides the foundational knowledge required to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate accredited educational activities and introduces Joint Accreditation requirements, educational planning principles, accreditation compliance expectations, outcomes evaluation, and the use of EthosCE.

Course Link: Insert Link

Request Course Author Access

Upon successful completion of the Foundations of Accredited Education Planning Course, submit the EthosCE Course Author and Planner Access Request – Fill out form to obtain the permissions required to create and manage your educational activity within EthosCE.

Planning an Activity

Planning an accredited educational activity involves identifying an educational need, selecting the appropriate activity type and format, assembling the planning team and faculty, completing accreditation requirements, and evaluating outcomes. Course Authors are responsible for ensuring activities meet Joint Accreditation standards and organizational requirements.

Activity Types

Select the activity type that best aligns with the intended educational design, audience, and delivery method. Activity type selection may impact accreditation requirements, timelines, evaluation methods, and available credit types.

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.

Minimum Attendance Requirement

A minimum of five (5) learners must participate in an educational activity for continuing education credit to be awarded. Activities that do not meet this minimum participation requirement may not be eligible for credit designation.

Planning Team and Faculty

Identify all planners, faculty, presenters, moderators, and other individuals who will contribute to the development or delivery of the activity. Required documentation, including disclosures and biographies, must be completed and submitted according to accreditation requirements. Within this document, you will find the following resources:

• Financial Relationship Disclosure Form – Required for Course Authors, planners, faculty, presenters, moderators, and content reviewers.
• Faculty Biography Requirements – Required for faculty and presenters participating in the activity.
• Conflict of Interest Mitigation Form – Used when a disclosed financial relationship requires review and mitigation.

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

Disclosures and Compliance

All accredited educational activities must comply with Joint Accreditation requirements. Required disclosure and compliance documentation must be completed and reviewed before final activity approval.

Depending on the activity, required documentation may include:

• Financial Relationship Disclosure Form-insert link
• Faculty Biography Requirements-insert link
• Conflict of Interest Mitigation Form-insert link
• Commercial Support Request Form-insert link
• Sponsorship Agreement (if Applicable) -insert link

Owners or employees of ineligible companies may be restricted from participating in the planning or presentation of accredited education activities.

Additional Compliance Resources:

• ACCME Eligibility Requirements: https://accme.org/rule/eligibility/
• Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education: https://accme.org/publications/standards-for-integrity-independence-accredited-continuing-education

Build Your Activity in EthosCE

EthosCE serves as the official platform for planning, managing, delivering, and evaluating accredited educational activities. Course Authors use EthosCE to create activities, manage planners and faculty, upload required documentation, configure evaluations, and submit activities for review and approval.

Educational Activity Review and Approval

Activities should be submitted according to established planning timelines to allow sufficient time for review, revisions, approval, and system configuration. Activities must receive approval before promotion, registration, credit designation, or delivery. Prior to submission, ensure all required documentation included within this document has been completed, including:

• Financial Relationship Disclosure Forms-insert link
• Faculty Biography Requirements-insert link
• Conflict of Interest Mitigation Forms (if applicable)
• Commercial Support Request Form (if applicable) -insert link
• Sponsorship Agreement (if applicable) -insert link

Prior to submitting an activity for review by the Accredited Education team, ensure the following have been completed before submitting an activity for review in EthosCE, ensure the following have been completed:

• Identify planning team members and faculty.
• Collect all required Financial Relationship Disclosure Forms.
• Obtain Faculty Biographies.
• Complete Conflict of Interest Mitigation documentation, if applicable.
• Submit Commercial Support documentation, if applicable.
• Complete all required activity information and documentation in EthosCE.

​​​​​​​Recommended submission timeline:

Marketing and Promotional Materials

All marketing and promotional materials must be reviewed and approved by the JA Educational Activities Team prior to distribution. Promotional materials must comply with accreditation requirements and include all required accreditation, credit, disclosure, and registration information.

The following resources are included within this document:

• Marketing Review Request Form-insert link
• Flyer Template-insert link
• Accreditation Statement Templates
• Credit Designation Statement Templates

Submit all promotional materials using the Marketing Review Request Form and obtain approval before distribution.

Registration Fees and Payments

For fee-based activities, appropriate approvals, payment processes, and learner communications must be established before registration opens. Additional guidance and resources are available in the Resources section.

Outcomes Evaluation

Following activity completion, review evaluation and outcomes data to assess the effectiveness of the educational activity, identify opportunities for improvement, and support accreditation reporting requirements.

Resources and Support

Additional forms, templates, planning tools, guidance documents, and support resources are available in the Resources for Course Authors and Planners document. For assistance with educational planning, accreditation requirements, or EthosCE, contact the Accredited Education Team.

Accreditation Resources:

• Joint Accreditation Website: https://jointaccreditation.org
• Joint Accreditation Criteria: https://jointaccreditation.org/criteria
• Joint Accreditation FAQs: https://jointaccreditation.org/faqs
• Joint Accreditation Glossary: https://jointaccreditation.org/glossary
• ACCME Eligibility Requirements: https://accme.org/rule/eligibility/
• Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education: https://accme.org/publications/standards-for-integrity-independence-accredited-continuing-education

​​​​​​​For assistance with educational planning, accreditation requirements, or EthosCE, contact the Accredited Education Activities Team at ce@luriechildrens.org.