A clinical question can create two records worth keeping. One documents the credit you earned through an eligible activity. The other records what you learned and what you want to do with it. During a busy week, the easiest way to keep both current is to claim credit in the source platform and follow up selected topics in a separate learning record.
This guide is for US physicians who use point-of-care references as part of their work. It compares UpToDate, DynaMed, CME Passport and iatroX across a typical month of clinical learning. Provider workflows and links were checked on 5 November 2026.
Separate the three stages of earning, claiming and reporting
An activity may appear in your reference tool as soon as you complete an eligible search or topic review. Claiming or redeeming it is the step that produces the provider’s completed credit record. Reporting is the transfer of eligible information to a participating licensing or certification authority. A physician can encounter all three stages in one platform and still need to check each status separately. AMA guidance on CME requirements · ACCME learner credit reporting guide
Start with the requirement you are working toward. Record the licensing or certifying body, the relevant date range, the accepted credit type, and any specified topics. Use the designation for the particular activity when matching it to that requirement. If you hold more than one credential, give each one its own line in your review so that the submission dates and topic requirements stay visible.
How the tools fit into a month of clinical learning
| Tool | Where it fits | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| UpToDate and UpToDate Expert AI | Eligible point-of-care searching during a working day | Accrued activity, redemption and the provider’s CME history |
| DynaMed and DynaMedex | Eligible topic reading through a personal account | Tracked topic activity and the claim route |
| CME Passport | Review credit reported by participating providers | The transcript and the activity visible for the relevant period |
| iatroX | Revisit a question and develop your reasoning | Source-linked learning, targeted practice and a reviewed record in My CPD |
UpToDate. Sign into your eligible account and use the reference as the question arises. Wolters Kluwer describes accrual through eligible searches, including questions in Expert AI for supported credit types. Search-based activity generally requires you to record the goal and application to practice when you redeem. In CME History you can review the redeemed activity and download your certificate or activity log. Match Expert AI use to the credit type your authority accepts. UpToDate’s earning and redemption guide · Current accreditations
DynaMed. Eligible clinicians can use topic-based learning in DynaMed or DynaMedex and claim through the service. EBSCO describes activity tracking as you read topics while signed in, with claims submitted from the accumulated topic activity. Review the designation for your profession and the provider’s instructions before making the claim. DynaMed continuing education · EBSCO’s claim instructions
CME Passport. This ACCME service brings reported credit into a personal transcript. When a participating provider reports your activity through PARS, check that the activity appears under your account and in the intended period. Keep the original provider record for activities you document through another accepted route. ACCME for physicians · ACCME’s explanation of PARS
Keep a short reconciliation record
Set aside a few minutes at a regular interval to compare what you completed with what you claimed and what appears in the destination. A simple record can use one row per activity and seven fields.
| Activity date | Provider and topic | Designated credit type | Amount claimed | Claim date | Evidence location | Reporting status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of participation | Topic or activity name from the provider | Exact label on the activity | Amount on the completed claim | Date confirmed in the portal | Provider certificate or transcript location | Provider record saved, reporting pending, or visible in destination |
Use the activity date and the claim date as separate fields. That helps when a reference session takes place at the end of one month and you redeem it in the next. When the same activity appears in both a provider certificate and CME Passport, use the two records to reconcile one claim. If a credit you expected to see is still missing, check the provider’s claim status, the identifying details in the reporting workflow and the destination’s own record.
Use iatroX for the question you want to revisit
Some lookups reveal a topic you want to practise, teach or discuss at a later review. iatroX gives that second learning task a home. Ask a focused question, open the supporting material, then use Save learning on eligible answers with all-access to start a source-linked reflection. For a topic you want to test, create a targeted session in an available clinical-content library and review the reasoning with Tutor. A completed session prepares a private draft that you can personalise and confirm in My CPD. Ask iatroX · iatroX CPD workflow
For example, an eligible reference lookup during an outpatient session may clarify how to organise a follow-up discussion. Claim that activity in the reference platform. Later, use iatroX to study the communication principle with a focused set of questions and write a short note describing the wording you plan to try. At your next teaching session, revisit the note and add what you observed. The claim records the eligible activity. The iatroX record preserves your reasoning and follow-up.
My CPD keeps the reviewed record available to revisit or export as PDF. iatroX all-access connects that workflow with Tutor, study planning and paid question banks. The verified-account introductory CPD session is a way to try the full sequence of questions, review and reflection. iatroX CPD access and evidence
UK clinicians can use a separate workflow for building a record for appraisal. How to log CPD at work
Frequently asked questions
When should I check CME Passport?
After claiming eligible credit, check your transcript periodically for activity reported by participating providers. Use the provider’s history to confirm the activity and the amount while the report is being processed. ACCME for physicians
Can I earn CME while using UpToDate Expert AI?
UpToDate describes Expert AI accrual for supported credit types and eligible accounts. Confirm the activity and credit designation with your intended authority. UpToDate accreditation details
Where do I keep my reflection and follow-up?
Keep the provider’s record for the credit. Use My CPD for your reviewed learning, planned action and follow-up, with a PDF when you want a portable copy. iatroX CPD