ABP responds to ABIM's MOC Announcement

[group_theory]

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Got this email today. Recently ABIM announce some changes to their MOC program due to blacklash from a lot of physicians and physician groups. See this thread on SDN for details of changes ABIM is making. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/abim-apology.1119239/

There have been a lot of blacklash about the MOC programs that various member boards of the ABMS have instituted. See Dr Paul Teirstein's editorial in NEJM: N Engl J Med 2015; 372:106-108
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1407422

So today the ABP responded. Basically it looks like ABP have no plans to change their MOC requirements.

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Dear Diplomate,

The American Board of Pediatrics is well aware of the current debate throughout the medical community regarding the value of Maintenance of Certification (MOC). On Tuesday (Feb. 3, 2015), the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) announced significant changes to its MOC requirements. While we are fellow members of the community of medical boards, ABIM and ABP serve different populations and have approached MOC differently. The ABP is looking closely at ABIM's changes and the reasons behind them.


The ABP's MOC program is based on the belief that ongoing learning, assessment and quality improvement are integral to our mission of assuring parents that an ABP diplomate (certified pediatrician) possesses the competencies to care for their children. We have been working tirelessly with many of you to make all parts of MOC relevant and useful to pediatricians. Just as we ask diplomates to assess their practices and improve, I assure you that we have been doing the same with ABP's MOC program.


We certainly agree that all boards must constantly look for ways to improve their processes and we defer to ABIM on the best ways for its board to accomplish that goal. It may help you to know that a number of issues that ABIM is trying to address do not apply to the ABP. For instance, ABIM has a 2-year MOC cycle, whereas ABP has a 5-year cycle. The ABP has long had a practice-oriented MOC exam with a 95 percent pass rate, as opposed to ABIM's current MOC exam, which closely resembles its initial certification exam and has a 78 percent pass rate. The now suspended ABIM Part 4 requirements included a patient satisfaction ("patient voice") requirement. The ABP has never had such a requirement. Whereas ABIM is now seeking more input from professional societies, the ABP bylaws stipulate representation of all major pediatric societies on our board of directors. In consultation with pediatric subspecialty societies, the ABP froze initial certification fees for 2015 based on our concern about educational debt faced by young pediatricians.


The ABP is making no changes to the requirements for maintaining certification at this time.


However, we continuously assess our certification requirements, including examinations and MOC activities. Through our website, blog and social media, we will keep you abreast of any changes to current processes and policies for both initial certification and MOC. These communications provide opportunities for you to engage with us in a dialog to address our mutual commitment to the health care of children and youth.




Sincerely,


David G. Nichols, MD, MBA

President & CEO

American Board of Pediatrics

 

[group_theory]

ABP sent a follow-up email:

Dear Diplomate,

After my letter to you a few weeks ago, I promised to be in touch again following a review of our MOC strategic initiatives and policies. In the mean time I have corresponded with a number of you and appreciate your many helpful suggestions. This month's blog discusses near-term changes and long-term directions of the ABP MOC program. It includes responses to comments you have made on such topics as cost and the evidence behind MOC.

Read the ABP Blog posting: http://abpedsblog.org/2015/02/25/abp-outlines-moc-changes/

Primary care pediatricians in small private practices have different needs than academic subspecialists attached to large hospitals and there are many other practice patterns as well. I will do my best to address MOC from the perspective of the important work that each of you does. I look forward to ongoing dialogue.


Sincerely,



David G. Nichols, MD, MBA

President & CEO

American Board of Pediatrics

 

[drkristy85]

ABP stinks. I was so angry when I saw this email in my inbox. They need to get rid of Part 4 of MOC. I realize many of my fellow co-residents aren't thinking ahead to end of residency and MOC down the line, but we need to work to get rid of this thing now. This is the time. Practicing physicians are angry with MOC and we need to take action. I read the AAP News Section and a significant portion of pediatricians want to get rid of it. We need to work together.

Part 4 needs to go. Particularly the QI project crap. It's ok to have to do QI projects in residency, but practicing physicians should not be forced to do QI projects. Private practice is busy and workaholic enough without ABP forcing us to do QI projects. If private practice physicians in small group practices WANT to do QI projects, that's great, but it should not be forced upon us.