The shrinking CME industry

The CME (certified continuing medical education) industry is shrinking. According to the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education), there has been a significant reduction in CME providers. Here's how MMM (Medical Marketing & Media) puts it in the recent story, "ACCME reports industry shrinkage"

In the last 12 months, 142 medical-education providers either lost their accreditation to offer CME or decided not to apply for renewal, said the ACCME in a report issued last Friday. The tally includes med-ed companies, societies, hospitals and other entities which, for a variety of reasons, have found it too difficult to offer certified activities or, in some cases, to remain in operation at all...  There are now 713 accredited providers (vs. 725 in 2008) and 1,523 providers accredited by ACCME-recognized state and territory medical societies (vs. 1,600 in 2008).

Wow, 142 seems like a really large number (roughly 20% of 700). I personally know that quite a few CME companies have chosen to leave the CME industry to pursue opportunities focused on promotional medical education, advertising, etc. I really enjoy working in the CME industry, but I admit that I wonder about the future of this industry.