Cardiology Boards 2024

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jospeed said:
I put Atach, almost did svt but you could see the p waves unless it was very long RP. Didn’t think it was flutter. Mastectomy I almost did effusion but it wasn’t all low voltage, so I did normal 🤦‍♂️ but who knows.
Did anyone terminate pregnancy on day 1. Didn’t even know what syndrome they were talking about
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if we are talking about the one that everyone was saying flutter. i also put atach but i could be wrong. I do remember the rate was close to 150 which should have given me more of a pause
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LAD stent with 99%+ restenosis and distal flow. Patent or occluded. Why is there not a choice for just in stent restenosis.
Sounds like everyone is having trouble with those few questions like brugada vs hypothermia, atach/flutter, and some grafts. Maybe those are all
The experimental 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
 
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TAVR4life said:
Can't believe they make this exam so ambiguous and no transparency on how to code. I'm sorry the examples they gave on their website are not enough and they choose the easiest high yield examples instead of ambiguous one they give us on the exam. They need to give multiple examples to truly get a sense. This exam should not be based on coding with no guidance especially when coding options are limited and rigid and don't make sense for what they present.
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Honestly, combining the two exams is absolutely criminal. If you fail coding and they let you retake coding some time during the year, it would basically be done and you could move on. It’s criminal how much money they have taken from all those people who only fail that part. No idea how to improve at this point, I’m generally banking on the ekg portion to maybe balance cath and echo for me.
 
Kryptodoc1938 said:
Honestly, combining the two exams is absolutely criminal. If you fail coding and they let you retake coding some time during the year, it would basically be done and you could move on. It’s criminal how much money they have taken from all those people who only fail that part. No idea how to improve at this point, I’m generally banking on the ekg portion to maybe balance cath and echo for me.
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I agree. My concern is the lack of standards completely for the coding section. They should allow for a wide array of answers without being docked points with maybe a few that you clearly gain points. Angiograms have never been my strong suit so thats definitely what worries me the most.
 
Seeing all the different variations in coding makes me feel so stressed. This should not be this difficult. Or at least release some guide that sets the standards.
 
jospeed said:
I put Atach, almost did svt but you could see the p waves unless it was very long RP. Didn’t think it was flutter. Mastectomy I almost did effusion but it wasn’t all low voltage, so I did normal 🤦‍♂️ but who knows.
Did anyone terminate pregnancy on day 1. Didn’t even know what syndrome they were talking about
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Definitely thought it would have been helpful to take a cardio OB course for the first day. So many questions ! And not just basic management … very detailed stuff that was neither covered on ACCSAP nor Mayo.

I couldn’t figure out these two ECGs … one of them is the first I got and it really threw me for rest of the sections. In retrospect, maybe SVT but I could swear saw sinus p waves ..
 
Jayeskay said:
LAD stent with 99%+ restenosis and distal flow. Patent or occluded. Why is there not a choice for just in stent restenosis.
Sounds like everyone is having trouble with those few questions like brugada vs hypothermia, atach/flutter, and some grafts. Maybe those are all
The experimental 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
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That 99% stenosis is exactly why there should be an “in stent restenosis” option. It drove me wild because I didn’t know which to choose. Ultimately I picked occluded stent because I figured that’s what the boards were going for? But who knows?!
 
Man I failed day 1 by 7 points last year...I did mayo, board vitals and ACCSAP this year...hopefully was enough
Also hoping day 2 was good enough
 
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We need to contact the new board to let them know about how unfair the initial certification is. They seem to be focused on recertification (which doesn't have a Day 2) but they really need to know how bad the initial certification is. Just look at threads about the board exam, it's the same thing every year.
 
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TAVR4life said:
We need to contact the new board to let them know about how unfair the initial certification is. They seem to be focused on recertification (which doesn't have a Day 2) but they really need to know how bad the initial certification is. Just look at threads about the board exam, it's the same thing every year.
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I believe they want to to initial certification as well. Check their website under FAQs. Let me know if I am incorrect.
 
iwannabegreat said:
I believe they want to to initial certification as well. Check their website under FAQs. Let me know if I am incorrect.
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But when is that supposed to happen. I think it will be another year or two before that happens, we are screwed until then. Also who knows how that exam is going to be
 
jospeed said:
But when is that supposed to happen. I think it will be another year or two before that happens, we are screwed until then. Also who knows how that exam is going to be
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Correct. They did the open comment part recently. I did send a letter in and many others did that I know of. It’s under review is what they say. Hopefully soon and as early as next year. Fingers crossed 🤞
 
When do you guys expect our results to be released?
 
TAVR4life said:
5 Wednesdays after test day in the past if no test day issues otherwise can take almost 2 months. Earliest will be end of first week of December.
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If no test day issues!!! this year they have to double check all these EP questions and to make sure they are appropriate for upcoming EP boards🤣
 
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TAVR4life said:
5 Wednesdays after test day in the past if no test day issues otherwise can take almost 2 months. Earliest will be end of first week of December.
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Really that’s too early, I suspect 8-12 weeks. So around Christmas or new years 🤦‍♂️
 
How does one code if ECG doesn't meet strict criteria of low voltage (every precordial lead < 10 mm or limb leads < 5 mm). Would you still code it as effusion if it isn't meeting the criteria but the 3 word stem suggests it a possibility? Hypothermia can also have Brugada like changes so wouldn't code for Brugada "syndrome" since need type 1 ECG pattern plus other clinical criteria correct?

I can't tell if they were trying to be tricky and wanted strict criteria or were giving us imperfect presentations but still getting at the obvious diagnosis.

I feel like I overthought this exam and instead followed strict criteria that I had memorized but maybe should have approached it based what they're getting at instead.

Kind of ridiculous to ask such questions with gray areas on a standardized exam with limited answer choices that don't really fit what they're presenting us
 
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TAVR4life said:
How does one code if ECG doesn't meet strict criteria of low voltage (every precordial lead < 10 mm or limb leads < 5 mm). Would you still code it as effusion if it isn't meeting the criteria but the 3 word stem suggests it a possibility? Hypothermia can also have Brugada like changes so wouldn't code for Brugada "syndrome" since need type 1 ECG pattern plus other clinical criteria correct?

I can't tell if they were trying to be tricky and wanted strict criteria or were giving us imperfect presentations but still getting at the obvious diagnosis.

I feel like I overthought this exam and instead followed strict criteria that I had memorized but maybe should have approached it based what they're getting at instead.

Kind of ridiculous to ask such questions with gray areas on a standardized exam with limited answer choices that don't really fit what they're presenting us
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Just be mentally ready. Most people, including many in this thread, repeated this exam 2-4 times. I recall some in this thread, their first attempt when I was a third-year IM resident and they are still here every year.
 
MRmiyagi said:
When should we be expecting scores released
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Historically it's been the week of the 5th Wednesday so either by end of this week or by mid next week. A couple of years where it's taken close to 2 months (end of Dec/beginning of January) but that was during covid year and last years debacle.
 
TAVR4life said:
Historically it's been the week of the 5th Wednesday so either by end of this week or by mid next week. A couple of years where it's taken close to 2 months (end of Dec/beginning of January) but that was during covid year and last years debacle.
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Probably score this week, possibly even today unless they are taking longer.
 
Kryptodoc1938 said:
They still could release today but i guess it’s going to be like this everyday until they release.
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My guess was for tomorrow originally and if not by tomorrow morning then likely next Wednesday based on release dates listed on prior SDN threads
 
In 2022 they released the scores on 12/2/22 the 5th Friday after the exam. So they might release them tomorrow.
 
Was hoping for the results to be released today. Guess we have to wait one more week unless they release over the weekend.
 
Did any one got that email today from ABIM that now subspecialty exam open to register. When I checked last year SDN some people got it last year too before score released.
 
Card2 said:
Did any one got that email today from ABIM that now subspecialty exam open to register. When I checked last year SDN some people got it last year too before score released.
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Yes I did! Scared me until I checked last year’s thread…seems like everyone gets it?
 
Card2 said:
Did any one got that email today from ABIM that now subspecialty exam open to register. When I checked last year SDN some people got it last year too before score released.
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I got it as well and had a mini stroke lol
 
If you try to “re-register” for cardiology exam though, it doesn’t show as an option. Also had a mini stroke haha
 
Almost certain that results will be out this week on Wednesday. ABIM website posted an announcement just now “ABIM WILL BE CLOSING AT 12:00 P.M. ET ON TUE., 12/10/24. Our offices will re-open on Wed., 12/11/24 at 8:30 a.m. ET.”
Am sure they are doing this in preparation for exam results .. am not even waiting for my cardiology boards results but a cardiology subspeciality exam, and piggybacking off this post with you all. My test was a week after Gen card exam.
 
If I try to register to take the cardio boards for 2025 and it's not on the drop down , does that mean I passed 🙂
 
The score reveals itself when it reveals itself. The speculation of when it will arrive is not helping any of the anxiety. They should just announce a day and try to stick to it.
 
Kryptodoc1938 said:
The score reveals itself when it reveals itself. The speculation of when it will arrive is not helping any of the anxiety. They should just announce a day and try to stick to it.
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I agree! Do you know what time of the day the results are usually released?
 
When I inquired about the ITE-Cardiology, ACC mentioned that the results are likely to be released tomorrow, Friday. Therefore, I believe the cardiology board results will also be released on Friday, along with the ITE. Keep a close eye on it starting early Friday morning, as the Echo boards (by NBE) were released around midnight this time 🙂 Good luck
 
Looks like interventional cardiology folks got their results yesterday. Hoping for ours soon
 
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