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.
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.
PREACH!!!!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.
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
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.
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.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
Same here.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.
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...
Beat me to it.What exactly did the ABD do about the -25 modifier? Are you sure you don't mean AAD?
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)
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 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.
I've found them to get rather punitive and petty at any threat to the power structure, most definitely including a threat to revenues.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.
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."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."
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.
The "Exam of the Future" been postponed to 2021.
Well.... when you put it like that....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