Boards pain

[jimbomd]

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got an email that the derm board apparently failed a bunch of people the last 2 years who had actually passed. Total ****ery. If you are or know one of these people, please message me. There is recourse.

 

[asmallchild]

got an email that the derm board apparently failed a bunch of people the last 2 years who had actually passed. Total ****ery. If you are or know one of these people, please message me. There is recourse.

I love the irony. The board that is supposed to determine our competency (even though my state deems me fit to practice medicine, my own board makes me jump through circles before they'll grant me the same honor...) turns out to be (*shock*) wildly incompetent.

Nothing more than a money grabbing organization and I don't believe for one second they care about physician competence or patient safety.

I am thinking seriously about no longer participating in MOC before my next recertification exam.

 

[MOHS_01]

I love the irony. The board that is supposed to determine our competency (even though my state deems me fit to practice medicine, my own board makes me jump through circles before they'll grant me the same honor...) turns out to be (*shock*) wildly incompetent.

Nothing more than a money grabbing organization and I don't believe for one second they care about physician competence or patient safety.

I am thinking seriously about no longer participating in MOC before my next recertification exam.

PREACH!!!!

 

[atomi]

Similar thing is going on with rad onc. Go over to their forums and check the physics thread if you want to see a real ****show.

Maybe all these scandals in the various specialties, IM the most infamous, will be undoing of this illegal “boards” system.

 

[Skindoc83]

My concern is that you do away with these “illegal boards” and now any physician can call himself a dermatologist and hang up a shingle

 

[atomi]

My concern is that you do away with these “illegal boards” and now any physician can call himself a dermatologist and hang up a shingle

So the only alternative to corrupt specialty boards is no boards at all? How about we just fix the corruption?

 

[asmallchild]

My concern is that you do away with these “illegal boards” and now any physician can call himself a dermatologist and hang up a shingle

They already do that in my neck of the woods.

They can't say dermatologist but in giant letters, they'll say "skin specialist" on their office front despite boasting an educational background in IM, FM, OBGYN, dentistry, etc.

I don't think board certification exams and MOC prevent this kind of behavior. It would be interesting to see whether the elimination would worsen the problem.

 

[russwheeler]

They already do that in my neck of the woods.

They can't say dermatologist but in giant letters, they'll say "skin specialist" on their office front despite boasting an educational background in IM, FM, OBGYN, dentistry, etc.

I don't think board certification exams and MOC prevent this kind of behavior. It would be interesting to see whether the elimination would worsen the problem.

The only avenue is media attention...but I'm not even sure the public really cares, especially with all the recent negative 'dermatology' press recently (I think a lot of the articles cover non-derms masquerading as derms). Focus on the fact that skin cancer is by far the most common form of cancer (and that the most lethal form is increasing in prevalence) and highlight non-derms intrusion into the specialty (with specific examples of how this has resulted in patient harm...everyone has a notebook full of these). The certifying exam has done nothing to prevent this. Perhaps Dr. PimplePopper could be recruited as the spokesperson. I could go on but I have to begin documenting...err practicing dermatology.

A somewhat similar situation occurred with the American Board of Internal Medicine. When the 'serfdom' of residency is continued through an all-controlling board, it's only a matter of time before the homage that the serfs have to pay becomes exorbitant (this model is highlighted very well throughout medieval history). I encourage everyone to read the following article:
A Certified Medical Controversy (Newsweek)

 

[tigers96]

Unfortunately we had a resident told he failed last year. It was slightly odd because it was not a resident you think would fail based on in service scores and our program had not had a failure in over 25 years. He retook the exam this year, but was then told he actually passed last year. He has taken it in stride, but I would be furious. From my understanding, I think they just said “sorry”, but that doesn’t quite cover it.

Agree this is a money grabbing organization, little transparency on where our fees go. And although they are trying to change it, the board exam has little to do with clinical practice.

 

[MOHS_01]

My concern is that you do away with these “illegal boards” and now any physician can call himself a dermatologist and hang up a shingle

They would have to really try to offer a service worse than what I've had to deal with from community derms over this past two weeks. Epic.

 

[MOHS_01]

They already do that in my neck of the woods.

They can't say dermatologist but in giant letters, they'll say "skin specialist" on their office front despite boasting an educational background in IM, FM, OBGYN, dentistry, etc.

I don't think board certification exams and MOC prevent this kind of behavior. It would be interesting to see whether the elimination would worsen the problem.

Same here.

 

[Skindoc83]

While I don’t love the ABD I think they are one of the most successful specialty organizations with regards to advocacy. They played a huge role in at least delaying the 25 modifier cut. Compare them to the AMA. If 2016 has taught us anything it’s not to let perfect get in the way of better/good. Is the ABD perfect? Not by a long shot. But are they actively destroying our profession like the AMA or the radiation oncology board? No.....But I think they promoted the clown in charge of Schweigert Derm as some kind of visionary on the field so...

 

[reno911]

While I don’t love the ABD I think they are one of the most successful specialty organizations with regards to advocacy. They played a huge role in at least delaying the 25 modifier cut. Compare them to the AMA. If 2016 has taught us anything it’s not to let perfect get in the way of better/good. Is the ABD perfect? Not by a long shot. But are they actively destroying our profession like the AMA or the radiation oncology board? No.....But I think they promoted the clown in charge of Schweigert Derm as some kind of visionary on the field so...

What exactly did the ABD do about the -25 modifier? Are you sure you don't mean AAD?

 

[MOHS_01]

What exactly did the ABD do about the -25 modifier? Are you sure you don't mean AAD?

Beat me to it.

 

[JDMD243.0]

The only avenue is media attention...but I'm not even sure the public really cares, especially with all the recent negative 'dermatology' press recently (I think a lot of the articles cover non-derms masquerading as derms). Focus on the fact that skin cancer is by far the most common form of cancer (and that the most lethal form is increasing in prevalence) and highlight non-derms intrusion into the specialty (with specific examples of how this has resulted in patient harm...everyone has a notebook full of these). The certifying exam has done nothing to prevent this. Perhaps Dr. PimplePopper could be recruited as the spokesperson. I could go on but I have to begin documenting...err practicing dermatology.

A somewhat similar situation occurred with the American Board of Internal Medicine. When the 'serfdom' of residency is continued through an all-controlling board, it's only a matter of time before the homage that the serfs have to pay becomes exorbitant (this model is highlighted very well throughout medieval history). I encourage everyone to read the following article:
A Certified Medical Controversy (Newsweek)

I have declined to pay or otherwise participate in further ABD MOC pending a hearing with the entire ABD Board of Directors (BOD) to discuss my concerns with the ABD, specifically the personnel leading the ABD, and lack of integrity, competence and transparency of the organization as it is currently run. If threatened with loss of certification there is ABD an appeal process for adverse decisions that involves a hearing with the entire ABD BOD. I invite anyone else to do the same.

 

[MOHS_01]

I have declined to pay or otherwise participate in further ABD MOC pending a hearing with the entire ABD Board of Directors (BOD) to discuss my concerns with the ABD, specifically the personnel leading the ABD, and lack of integrity, competence and transparency of the organization as it is currently run. If threatened with loss of certification there is ABD an appeal process for adverse decisions that involves a hearing with the entire ABD BOD. I invite anyone else to do the same.

Good luck and Godspeed. If experience is any indicator, arguing with an academic that they are wrong, even when they are arguing that water is, in fact, not wet, is an exercise in both frustration and futility.

 

[JDMD243.0]

Good luck and Godspeed. If experience is any indicator, arguing with an academic that they are wrong, even when they are arguing that water is, in fact, not wet, is an exercise in both frustration and futility.

I’ve found that academics become much more agreeable when they are looking at a loss of revenue.

 

[MOHS_01]

I’ve found that academics become much more agreeable when they are looking at a loss of revenue.

I've found them to get rather punitive and petty at any threat to the power structure, most definitely including a threat to revenues.

 

[JDMD243.0]

I've found them to get rather punitive and petty at any threat to the power structure, most definitely including a threat to revenues.

Normally I would agree however this organization just acknowledged a fairly grave error in their performance of the one thing they purportedly exist to do. So I’d argue now is as good a time as any to look these folks in the eye and ask some questions.

 

[JDMD243.0]

Normally I would agree however this organization just acknowledged a fairly grave error in their performance of the one thing they purportedly exist to do. So I’d argue now is as good a time as any to look these folks in the eye and ask some questions.

Dr. Thomas Horn on Patient Safety

 

[russwheeler]

Normally I would agree however this organization just acknowledged a fairly grave error in their performance of the one thing they purportedly exist to do. So I’d argue now is as good a time as any to look these folks in the eye and ask some questions.

Thank you for standing up to them. I would like to be kept abreast of your progress. Many conflate the ABD and AAD...they are not the same. Their apology email basically says, "It's the scoring company we contracted with's fault."

 

[JDMD243.0]

Thank you for standing up to them. I would like to be kept abreast of your progress. Many conflate the ABD and AAD...they are not the same. Their apology email basically says, "It's the scoring company we contracted with's fault."

Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica

 

[JDMD243.0]

Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica

Correction:

Requirements for Exemption Business League | Internal Revenue Service

 

[TMP-SMX]

The error was mainly on the part of the third party company scoring the exam but more details will be forthcoming. The ABD is a small organization and there needs to be accountability but I do believe they want to change the exam to make it better and that includes recertification.

 

[JDMD243.0]

The error was mainly on the part of the third party company scoring the exam but more details will be forthcoming. The ABD is a small organization and there needs to be accountability but I do believe they want to change the exam to make it better and that includes recertification.

I agree with above and would love to hear more insight. I actually believe in the ABD mission but the combination of arrogance and lack of transparency from the leadership of this organization suggests there needs to be significant changes in its composition. I assume Tom Horn is the person who signed the letters notifying those folks they ‘failed’ the CE in the last couple years—why didn’t he personally verify their scores before doing so.

 

[ddcg]

The "Exam of the Future" been postponed to 2021.

 

[JDMD243.0]

The "Exam of the Future" been postponed to 2021.

So I’m clear on this:
- ABD has been aware it’s exams have been significantly compromised by airplane notes since at least 2012
- ABD has been arrogant enough to continue admistering its exams with an Honor Code and has in fact failed candidates despite being aware it’s exams have been compromised by airplane notes since 2012
-ABD acknowledges it erroneously failed candidates taking its certifying exam in 2017-2018 due a software glitch but doesn’t explain why it did not personally verify scores before sending out letters to candidates informing them that they failed—a fairly incredulous way of doing business given above.
-ABD decides to keep doing this until at least 2021

 

[MOHS_01]

So I’m clear on this:
- ABD has been aware it’s exams have been significantly compromised by airplane notes since at least 2012
- ABD has been arrogant enough to continue admistering its exams with an Honor Code and has in fact failed candidates despite being aware it’s exams have been compromised by airplane notes since 2012
-ABD acknowledges it erroneously failed candidates taking its certifying exam in 2017-2018 due a software glitch but doesn’t explain why it did not personally verify scores before sending out letters to candidates informing them that they failed—a fairly incredulous way of doing business given above.
-ABD decides to keep doing this until at least 2021

Well.... when you put it like that....