Maintenance of Certification in other specialties

[cchoukal]

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One of the higher-ups in Internal Medicine at my university keeps a pretty interesting blog. He's a hospitalist (one of the first, I guess) and does a lot of work in administration and quality. He was just elected to be chair of the ABIM and devoted a blog entry to describing their new initiatives regarding MOC (something we've been dealing with in anesthesia for several years now). It's an interesting read, and the comments section is pretty lively. I think it's interesting how MOC is being perceived by so many as sort-of bending over to regulators, trying to find some way to measure quality at the behest of groups like CMS and the JC, without much evidence that it actually improves care.

http://community.the-hospitalist.or...he-abim-why-the-board-matters-more-than-ever/

 

[deleted126335]

One problem with board certification (at least in anesthesia) is that when first established it was never intended as a minimum standard to practice. It used to signify a higher level of mastery than the minimum. It was the mark of a "consultant" in Anesthesology. Over time it has become a de facto minimum standard. A new grad who never certifies faces a vey limited future of practice opportunities.

There used to be something of a carrot for attaining certification.
Now there is only a stick for not attaining and maintaining.

 

[CambieMD]

One problem with board certification (at least in anesthesia) is that when first established it was never intended as a minimum standard to practice. It used to signify a higher level of mastery than the minimum. It was the mark of a "consultant" in Anesthesology. Over time it has become a de facto minimum standard. A new grad who never certifies faces a vey limited future of practice opportunities.

There used to be something of a carrot for attaining certification.
Now there is only a stick for not attaining and maintaining.

This is true of all specialties. Board certification has changed in meaning. You have to be board certified to survive as a physician. Conrad Murray was not board certified and that fact was viewed by the public as a sign of his incompetence. "Can you believe he wasn't even board certified." Board certification may not have saved Conrad Murray it may have helped to make him look like less of a butcher. In todays thinking no board certification =quack.

Do not forget also that the maintenance of certification is a money maker for the various boards out there. The ABFM requires a number of modules be completed in their moc process. Guess who sells the modules and collects the money. The process is no less costly in anesthesia.

I am maintaining board certification in Family Medicine and Anesthesia.

To those in the process of obtaining primary certification in anesthesia take the process seriously. You have three attempts to pass the orals and the writtens. After you fail any of those exams three times you are sent to the back of the line. You are no longer board eligible. Not being board eligible can have serious implications. Hospitals may no longer want to credential you. You should understand this process as it could impact on your ability to earn an income.

Cambie

 

[Jalopycat]

Actually, the ABA changed their policy this year on retaking the exams. Now a candidate has unlimited chances to take an exam but they have to be board certified within 7 years of finishing residency. It's kind of a relief knowing that once you pass the written, you don't have to retake it even if the oral exam is failed 3 times. The information is on their news release. They didn't exactly get on the megaphone about the major changes!