Heather Dethloff, MA

On April 7, four members of CHEST staff and leadership, along with staff and leadership from other medical specialty societies, participated in the Internal Medicine Summit, hosted by the American Board of Internal Medicine, in Philadelphia. The meeting covered an array of topics related to certification and maintenance of certification (MOC), including the alternative assessment model announced in December 2016, quality improvement (QI) as part of MOC, and practicing medicine in an ever-changing political landscape.

The meeting began with Dr. Richard Baron, President and CEO of the ABIM, explaining how the notion of certification has changed over the years. According to Dr. Baron, the concept of lifetime certification no longer makes sense in the rapidly changing field of medicine. As part of the evolution of certification, the ABIM has moved away from “rules to follow” toward something, co-created with societies, that is more relevant and less burdensome. This shift includes aligning certification and MOC requirements with things physicians are already required to do by their states and institutions. Dr. Baron also stressed that in today’s cultural and political landscape, along with the prevalence of “fake news,” the need for trust in the doctor-patient relationship is increasing; trust is no longer a “given.” Therefore, in an age when credentials can be purchased online, there’s an increasing need for an external certification to build trust and boost credibility.

Dr. Marianne Green, member of the ABIM Board of Directors and the ABIM Council, gave an update on the recertification assessment options. While currently, only an every 2-year assessment option will be offered as an alternative to a 10-year higher stakes exam, the ABIM is looking to partner with societies to deliver education, based on the needs identified via the assessment. Furthermore, in addition to partnering with societies to address the identified knowledge gaps, the ABIM plans to collaborate with societies in future alternatives to both the 2-year and 10-year assessments, with the shared goal of “maintenance and support of a community of life-long learners who hold ourselves accountable to peer-defined standards.” Initially, the 2-year lower stakes assessment will cover the breadth of the knowledge in the specialty/subspecialty, but the ABIM is committed to taking a more modular approach in the future. When asked about the fee structure for the new assessment options, Dr. Green communicated that details regarding fees would be announced in fall 2017.

While the first part of the meeting focused on MOC Part 2, the conversation turned toward quality improvement, or QI, later part of the meeting. The practice improvement, or MOC Part 4, requirement is on hold through the end of 2018. Both the ABIM and represented societies value the importance of quality measures. Dr. Graham McMahon, president and CEO of Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), laid the framework for QI as being “activities that address a quality or safety gap with interventions intended to result in improvement and with specific, measurable goals. QI activities are learner-driven, as learner engagement is a key target of ACCME’s standard. Representatives from the Heart Rhythm Society, the Society of Hospital Medicine, the Arthritis Foundation, and the American College of Rheumatology shared their organization’s initiatives related to QI.

Apart from the focus on certification and MOC, the meeting also focused on the needs arising from a changing political world, including what is at stake with the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the challenges arising with the wide dissemination of questionable news and the general disregard of science. Stephen Welch, CHEST EVP/CEO, participated in a panel entitled “Practicing Medicine in a Fact-Free World.” He, along with other media professionals, discussed the challenges that physicians, patients, and physician educators encounter in a time when false facts are published as truth and information is sensationalized to attract more attention.

Since the meeting, CHEST leadership sent a letter to the ABIM leadership noting a desire to be one of the societies with whom the ABIM collaborates for both alternative assessment methods and the open-book resources selected. Additionally, CHEST expressed interest in receiving the data that are culled from the assessments, an interest aligned with CHEST’s current data analytics initiatives. CHEST will continue to collaborate with the ABIM to ensure CHEST members’ needs are represented and prioritized in future discussions.

On April 7, four members of CHEST staff and leadership, along with staff and leadership from other medical specialty societies, participated in the Internal Medicine Summit, hosted by the American Board of Internal Medicine, in Philadelphia. The meeting covered an array of topics related to certification and maintenance of certification (MOC), including the alternative assessment model announced in December 2016, quality improvement (QI) as part of MOC, and practicing medicine in an ever-changing political landscape.

The meeting began with Dr. Richard Baron, President and CEO of the ABIM, explaining how the notion of certification has changed over the years. According to Dr. Baron, the concept of lifetime certification no longer makes sense in the rapidly changing field of medicine. As part of the evolution of certification, the ABIM has moved away from “rules to follow” toward something, co-created with societies, that is more relevant and less burdensome. This shift includes aligning certification and MOC requirements with things physicians are already required to do by their states and institutions. Dr. Baron also stressed that in today’s cultural and political landscape, along with the prevalence of “fake news,” the need for trust in the doctor-patient relationship is increasing; trust is no longer a “given.” Therefore, in an age when credentials can be purchased online, there’s an increasing need for an external certification to build trust and boost credibility.

Dr. Marianne Green, member of the ABIM Board of Directors and the ABIM Council, gave an update on the recertification assessment options. While currently, only an every 2-year assessment option will be offered as an alternative to a 10-year higher stakes exam, the ABIM is looking to partner with societies to deliver education, based on the needs identified via the assessment. Furthermore, in addition to partnering with societies to address the identified knowledge gaps, the ABIM plans to collaborate with societies in future alternatives to both the 2-year and 10-year assessments, with the shared goal of “maintenance and support of a community of life-long learners who hold ourselves accountable to peer-defined standards.” Initially, the 2-year lower stakes assessment will cover the breadth of the knowledge in the specialty/subspecialty, but the ABIM is committed to taking a more modular approach in the future. When asked about the fee structure for the new assessment options, Dr. Green communicated that details regarding fees would be announced in fall 2017.

While the first part of the meeting focused on MOC Part 2, the conversation turned toward quality improvement, or QI, later part of the meeting. The practice improvement, or MOC Part 4, requirement is on hold through the end of 2018. Both the ABIM and represented societies value the importance of quality measures. Dr. Graham McMahon, president and CEO of Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), laid the framework for QI as being “activities that address a quality or safety gap with interventions intended to result in improvement and with specific, measurable goals. QI activities are learner-driven, as learner engagement is a key target of ACCME’s standard. Representatives from the Heart Rhythm Society, the Society of Hospital Medicine, the Arthritis Foundation, and the American College of Rheumatology shared their organization’s initiatives related to QI.

Apart from the focus on certification and MOC, the meeting also focused on the needs arising from a changing political world, including what is at stake with the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the challenges arising with the wide dissemination of questionable news and the general disregard of science. Stephen Welch, CHEST EVP/CEO, participated in a panel entitled “Practicing Medicine in a Fact-Free World.” He, along with other media professionals, discussed the challenges that physicians, patients, and physician educators encounter in a time when false facts are published as truth and information is sensationalized to attract more attention.

Since the meeting, CHEST leadership sent a letter to the ABIM leadership noting a desire to be one of the societies with whom the ABIM collaborates for both alternative assessment methods and the open-book resources selected. Additionally, CHEST expressed interest in receiving the data that are culled from the assessments, an interest aligned with CHEST’s current data analytics initiatives. CHEST will continue to collaborate with the ABIM to ensure CHEST members’ needs are represented and prioritized in future discussions.

On April 7, four members of CHEST staff and leadership, along with staff and leadership from other medical specialty societies, participated in the Internal Medicine Summit, hosted by the American Board of Internal Medicine, in Philadelphia. The meeting covered an array of topics related to certification and maintenance of certification (MOC), including the alternative assessment model announced in December 2016, quality improvement (QI) as part of MOC, and practicing medicine in an ever-changing political landscape.

The meeting began with Dr. Richard Baron, President and CEO of the ABIM, explaining how the notion of certification has changed over the years. According to Dr. Baron, the concept of lifetime certification no longer makes sense in the rapidly changing field of medicine. As part of the evolution of certification, the ABIM has moved away from “rules to follow” toward something, co-created with societies, that is more relevant and less burdensome. This shift includes aligning certification and MOC requirements with things physicians are already required to do by their states and institutions. Dr. Baron also stressed that in today’s cultural and political landscape, along with the prevalence of “fake news,” the need for trust in the doctor-patient relationship is increasing; trust is no longer a “given.” Therefore, in an age when credentials can be purchased online, there’s an increasing need for an external certification to build trust and boost credibility.

Dr. Marianne Green, member of the ABIM Board of Directors and the ABIM Council, gave an update on the recertification assessment options. While currently, only an every 2-year assessment option will be offered as an alternative to a 10-year higher stakes exam, the ABIM is looking to partner with societies to deliver education, based on the needs identified via the assessment. Furthermore, in addition to partnering with societies to address the identified knowledge gaps, the ABIM plans to collaborate with societies in future alternatives to both the 2-year and 10-year assessments, with the shared goal of “maintenance and support of a community of life-long learners who hold ourselves accountable to peer-defined standards.” Initially, the 2-year lower stakes assessment will cover the breadth of the knowledge in the specialty/subspecialty, but the ABIM is committed to taking a more modular approach in the future. When asked about the fee structure for the new assessment options, Dr. Green communicated that details regarding fees would be announced in fall 2017.

While the first part of the meeting focused on MOC Part 2, the conversation turned toward quality improvement, or QI, later part of the meeting. The practice improvement, or MOC Part 4, requirement is on hold through the end of 2018. Both the ABIM and represented societies value the importance of quality measures. Dr. Graham McMahon, president and CEO of Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), laid the framework for QI as being “activities that address a quality or safety gap with interventions intended to result in improvement and with specific, measurable goals. QI activities are learner-driven, as learner engagement is a key target of ACCME’s standard. Representatives from the Heart Rhythm Society, the Society of Hospital Medicine, the Arthritis Foundation, and the American College of Rheumatology shared their organization’s initiatives related to QI.

Apart from the focus on certification and MOC, the meeting also focused on the needs arising from a changing political world, including what is at stake with the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the challenges arising with the wide dissemination of questionable news and the general disregard of science. Stephen Welch, CHEST EVP/CEO, participated in a panel entitled “Practicing Medicine in a Fact-Free World.” He, along with other media professionals, discussed the challenges that physicians, patients, and physician educators encounter in a time when false facts are published as truth and information is sensationalized to attract more attention.

Since the meeting, CHEST leadership sent a letter to the ABIM leadership noting a desire to be one of the societies with whom the ABIM collaborates for both alternative assessment methods and the open-book resources selected. Additionally, CHEST expressed interest in receiving the data that are culled from the assessments, an interest aligned with CHEST’s current data analytics initiatives. CHEST will continue to collaborate with the ABIM to ensure CHEST members’ needs are represented and prioritized in future discussions.

On April 8, 2106, CHEST joined 29 other medical specialty societies at the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM’s) biannual Liaison Committee on Certification and Recertification (LCCR) meeting in Philadelphia. The meeting focused on the changing face of Maintenance of Certification (MOC) and the vision ABIM has for the future of MOC.

President Richard J. Baron, MD, responded to a letter signed by several medical specialty societies, asking for clarification on ABIM’s vision and philosophy for MOC and the future changes ABIM is considering for the MOC program. Dr. Baron articulated the desire for MOC to be relevant to physicians’ practices in collaboration with the ABIM and the medical specialty societies, to produce, “a credential that speaks to whether physicians are staying current in knowledge and practice over the course of their career in their specialty.”

Dr. Richard G. Battaglia, ABIM Chief Medical Officer, and Eric McKeeby, ABIM Director of Community Engagement, reported the results of a membership survey and focus group discussions regarding ABIM’s Assessment 2020 Report, published in September 2015. They highlighted the challenges, opportunities, and future plans for the MOC program, in light of diplomates’ input through these mechanisms. In the feedback received, the majority of diplomates favored a move away from the secure 10-year MOC recertification examination. Several options were presented, including smaller, more frequent exams, secure exams taken from home or office, and the ability to “test out” of the 10-year exam by successfully completing smaller assessments along the way. Ultimately, participants favored a move away from assessment and toward learning and improvement through a mechanism that is relevant to their real-world practices. Dr. Baron noted the ABIM survey results in which 76.3% of diplomates said they wanted the MOC credential to mean “I am staying current in the knowledge I need to practice,” and he reiterated the Board’s commitment to developing assessment approaches that would result in a meaningful credential based on performance. The ABIM Board of Directors met in April, with the exam format being a priority for them.

Regarding the future of MOC, while the practice assessment requirement is on hold through 2018, ABIM recognizes the work in this area many physicians are currently doing. By early 2017, ABIM is planning on extending the partnership with ACCME to recognize practice assessment activities, along with current medical knowledge activities, for both CME and MOC. This expansion would include blended activities that meet both medical knowledge and practice assessment requirements.

In addition to ABIM staff’s perspectives, three medical societies, including CHEST, reported on their MOC efforts. Heather Dethloff, CHEST Education and Accreditation Specialist, participated in a panel discussion, along with the Endocrine Society and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine regarding the ongoing efforts to incorporate MOC into educational activities within their organizations. Successes and challenges encountered through the ABIM MOC certification process were the topics for discussion. During this presentation, CHEST announced its plan to incorporate ABIM MOC into the entire CHEST Annual Meeting 2016; details will be communicated to CHEST members and meeting registrants in coming months.

Throughout these changes to the MOC program, CHEST has been, and will continue to be, in communication with ABIM, advocating for our members. Any questions or concerns about this process can be directed to Heather Dethloff, Education and Accreditation Specialist, at [email protected].

More information

New ABIM Survey Indicates Physician Interest in Potential Changes to MOC Assessment: www.abim.org/news/new-abim-survey-indicates-physician-interest-in-potential-changes-to-moc-assessment.aspx

On April 8, 2106, CHEST joined 29 other medical specialty societies at the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM’s) biannual Liaison Committee on Certification and Recertification (LCCR) meeting in Philadelphia. The meeting focused on the changing face of Maintenance of Certification (MOC) and the vision ABIM has for the future of MOC.

President Richard J. Baron, MD, responded to a letter signed by several medical specialty societies, asking for clarification on ABIM’s vision and philosophy for MOC and the future changes ABIM is considering for the MOC program. Dr. Baron articulated the desire for MOC to be relevant to physicians’ practices in collaboration with the ABIM and the medical specialty societies, to produce, “a credential that speaks to whether physicians are staying current in knowledge and practice over the course of their career in their specialty.”

Dr. Richard G. Battaglia, ABIM Chief Medical Officer, and Eric McKeeby, ABIM Director of Community Engagement, reported the results of a membership survey and focus group discussions regarding ABIM’s Assessment 2020 Report, published in September 2015. They highlighted the challenges, opportunities, and future plans for the MOC program, in light of diplomates’ input through these mechanisms. In the feedback received, the majority of diplomates favored a move away from the secure 10-year MOC recertification examination. Several options were presented, including smaller, more frequent exams, secure exams taken from home or office, and the ability to “test out” of the 10-year exam by successfully completing smaller assessments along the way. Ultimately, participants favored a move away from assessment and toward learning and improvement through a mechanism that is relevant to their real-world practices. Dr. Baron noted the ABIM survey results in which 76.3% of diplomates said they wanted the MOC credential to mean “I am staying current in the knowledge I need to practice,” and he reiterated the Board’s commitment to developing assessment approaches that would result in a meaningful credential based on performance. The ABIM Board of Directors met in April, with the exam format being a priority for them.

Regarding the future of MOC, while the practice assessment requirement is on hold through 2018, ABIM recognizes the work in this area many physicians are currently doing. By early 2017, ABIM is planning on extending the partnership with ACCME to recognize practice assessment activities, along with current medical knowledge activities, for both CME and MOC. This expansion would include blended activities that meet both medical knowledge and practice assessment requirements.

In addition to ABIM staff’s perspectives, three medical societies, including CHEST, reported on their MOC efforts. Heather Dethloff, CHEST Education and Accreditation Specialist, participated in a panel discussion, along with the Endocrine Society and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine regarding the ongoing efforts to incorporate MOC into educational activities within their organizations. Successes and challenges encountered through the ABIM MOC certification process were the topics for discussion. During this presentation, CHEST announced its plan to incorporate ABIM MOC into the entire CHEST Annual Meeting 2016; details will be communicated to CHEST members and meeting registrants in coming months.

Throughout these changes to the MOC program, CHEST has been, and will continue to be, in communication with ABIM, advocating for our members. Any questions or concerns about this process can be directed to Heather Dethloff, Education and Accreditation Specialist, at [email protected].

More information

New ABIM Survey Indicates Physician Interest in Potential Changes to MOC Assessment: www.abim.org/news/new-abim-survey-indicates-physician-interest-in-potential-changes-to-moc-assessment.aspx

On April 8, 2106, CHEST joined 29 other medical specialty societies at the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM’s) biannual Liaison Committee on Certification and Recertification (LCCR) meeting in Philadelphia. The meeting focused on the changing face of Maintenance of Certification (MOC) and the vision ABIM has for the future of MOC.

President Richard J. Baron, MD, responded to a letter signed by several medical specialty societies, asking for clarification on ABIM’s vision and philosophy for MOC and the future changes ABIM is considering for the MOC program. Dr. Baron articulated the desire for MOC to be relevant to physicians’ practices in collaboration with the ABIM and the medical specialty societies, to produce, “a credential that speaks to whether physicians are staying current in knowledge and practice over the course of their career in their specialty.”

Dr. Richard G. Battaglia, ABIM Chief Medical Officer, and Eric McKeeby, ABIM Director of Community Engagement, reported the results of a membership survey and focus group discussions regarding ABIM’s Assessment 2020 Report, published in September 2015. They highlighted the challenges, opportunities, and future plans for the MOC program, in light of diplomates’ input through these mechanisms. In the feedback received, the majority of diplomates favored a move away from the secure 10-year MOC recertification examination. Several options were presented, including smaller, more frequent exams, secure exams taken from home or office, and the ability to “test out” of the 10-year exam by successfully completing smaller assessments along the way. Ultimately, participants favored a move away from assessment and toward learning and improvement through a mechanism that is relevant to their real-world practices. Dr. Baron noted the ABIM survey results in which 76.3% of diplomates said they wanted the MOC credential to mean “I am staying current in the knowledge I need to practice,” and he reiterated the Board’s commitment to developing assessment approaches that would result in a meaningful credential based on performance. The ABIM Board of Directors met in April, with the exam format being a priority for them.

Regarding the future of MOC, while the practice assessment requirement is on hold through 2018, ABIM recognizes the work in this area many physicians are currently doing. By early 2017, ABIM is planning on extending the partnership with ACCME to recognize practice assessment activities, along with current medical knowledge activities, for both CME and MOC. This expansion would include blended activities that meet both medical knowledge and practice assessment requirements.

In addition to ABIM staff’s perspectives, three medical societies, including CHEST, reported on their MOC efforts. Heather Dethloff, CHEST Education and Accreditation Specialist, participated in a panel discussion, along with the Endocrine Society and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine regarding the ongoing efforts to incorporate MOC into educational activities within their organizations. Successes and challenges encountered through the ABIM MOC certification process were the topics for discussion. During this presentation, CHEST announced its plan to incorporate ABIM MOC into the entire CHEST Annual Meeting 2016; details will be communicated to CHEST members and meeting registrants in coming months.

Throughout these changes to the MOC program, CHEST has been, and will continue to be, in communication with ABIM, advocating for our members. Any questions or concerns about this process can be directed to Heather Dethloff, Education and Accreditation Specialist, at [email protected].

More information

New ABIM Survey Indicates Physician Interest in Potential Changes to MOC Assessment: www.abim.org/news/new-abim-survey-indicates-physician-interest-in-potential-changes-to-moc-assessment.aspx