Empowering Family Physicians to Optimize ASCVD Risk Management Through  Guideline-Based CME and Performance Improvement

Program Overview

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is launching a Performance Improvement CME (PI CME) cohort program to improve family physicians’ management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), with a focus on guideline-directed risk assessment, LDL‑C goal attainment, and appropriate monitoring.

Through live webinars, an enduring online course, and practice-based quality improvement activities, participating physicians will identify care gaps, implement targeted interventions, and reassess outcomes to reduce treatment inertia and improve cardiovascular health, particularly in high‑risk regions.

Cohort participants will not be compensated for their involvement; however, a $1000 administrative stipend will be paid to the participant’s practice to offset the value of their time spent in the program.

Please Note: PI CME earned participating in this activity cannot be counted toward ABFM requirements.

Webinars

1-hour webinars will take place every three weeks, Thursday noon Central.

Why Participate?

• Earn up to 30.5 CME credits—including 20 PI CME credits
• Complete Performance Improvement CME through a structured, supported process focused on ASCVD risk assessment and lipid management.
• Improve LDL‑C goal attainment and reduce treatment inertia in real‑world practice
• Address common gaps in ASCVD care, including underuse of statins, delayed therapy intensification, inconsistent LDL‑C monitoring, and uncertainty around add‑on therapies.
• Apply current, guideline‑directed ASCVD care with confidence
• Strengthen your ability to use AHA/ACC, USPSTF, and AAFP recommendations for ASCVD risk assessment, LDL‑C targets, and treatment escalation—including when to consider ezetimibe and PCSK9‑targeted therapies.
• Gain practical experience using modern risk assessment tools
• Learn how to integrate evidence‑based risk calculators (including newer tools such as PREVENT™) and risk‑enhancing factors—such as Lp(a) and CKM syndrome—into everyday clinical decision‑making.
• Receive hands‑on support through a proven PDSA quality‑improvement model
• Assess your current practice, implement targeted interventions, analyze outcomes, and refine care processes with guidance from expert faculty and peer physicians.
• Strengthen team‑based workflows and monitoring systems
• Improve consistency in LDL‑C monitoring, follow‑up, and documentation, while clarifying staff roles and reducing care gaps that contribute to suboptimal cardiovascular outcomes.
• Enhance patient‑centered care and shared decision‑making
• Access practical tools and communication strategies to improve patient engagement, address misinformation, support lifestyle change, and individualize treatment plans.
• Address social determinants of health that impact ASCVD outcomes
• Learn strategies to recognize and address SDoH‑related barriers to treatment adherence and cardiovascular risk reduction within the scope of primary care.
• Access ready‑to‑use clinical tools and resources
• Receive downloadable decision aids, clinical checklists, patient education materials, and digital resources designed for immediate use in your practice.
• Learn alongside a small, focused cohort of peers
• Participate in a collaborative learning experience with physicians from up to 25 practices, with opportunities for peer discussion, shared problem‑solving, and mentorship.
• Demonstrate measurable improvements in practice performance and patient outcomes
• Document changes in LDL‑C monitoring, therapy intensification, and goal attainment—linking CME participation directly to improved cardiovascular care.

Eligibility Requirements

• 25 practicing family physicians will be invited to participate in the program.
• Commit to full participation for the duration of the program (June 2026 – December 2026)
• Participants are expected to remain engaged throughout the full project period, including baseline assessment, education, intervention implementation, reassessment, and reflection.
• Be willing to participate in a Performance Improvement (PI CME) project
• This includes completing self‑assessments, collecting and submitting de‑identified patient data, developing an action plan, and reassessing practice performance.
• Be able to attend required live webinar sessions
• Practice in a setting where guideline‑based care improvements can be implemented
• Applicants should work in a practice with sufficient patient volume and operational flexibility to implement workflow or care process changes.
• Agree to submit de‑identified clinical data for quality improvement purposes. Data submission is required for benchmarking, performance measurement, and evaluation of practice change; no identifiable patient information will be collected.
• Participants should be open to involving other members of the care team (e.g., nurses, MAs, care coordinators) in workflow changes and improvement strategies.
• Physicians practicing in high‑need or high‑risk regions are strongly encouraged to appl

Review & Selection

Applications will be reviewed, and participants will be selected by an internal working team. The awardees will be notified via e-mail by May 31, 2026.

Contact Information

Applications will be acknowledged via email. If you have any questions, please contact Zachary Porting at ZPorting@aafp.org or 800.274.2237 ext. 6009.

The Program is funded by an unrestricted grant from Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC.

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