All Entries Tagged With: "american board of medical specialties"

ABMS sets new standards for life long learning

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is putting increased focus on life-long learning for physicians. It has created a new set of standards for its maintenance of certification (MOC) program, which will be implemented over the next three years, according to a March 26 ABMS press release. These standards raise the bar for CME activities and require physicians to better document those activities.

“The ability to respond to the needs of the public while keeping pace with the growing field of physician performance measurement requires a dynamic continuous certification process,” said Kevin B. Weiss, MD, president and CEO of the ABMS in the press release.

On one hand, I can see some physicians rolling their eyes as they think “Great, something else I have to document and be measured against.” But on the other hand, doesn’t it make sense that in the rapidly evolving medical field, we make life-long learning a requirement? The key may be to ensure that whatever the ABMS and other certifying bodies require of physicians coincides with or complements Joint Commission and medical staff requirements.

Want to learn how board certification ties in with medical staff credentialing and privileging? Check out this post from the Credentialing Resource Center blog.

Does certification = competency?

When I learned that the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) announced a board certification in hospital medicine, I was surprised, intrigued, and skeptical. After managing hospital medicine practices for more than 11 years, I’ve seen the idea expand from a curious new concept to an accepted practice in hospitals across the country. Yet, today, the title of hospitalist remains a job description, not a certified medical specialty.

From a program management perspective, knowing that the hospitalists I employ have the same certification and credentials creates some expectation of consistency across the board. [more]

Who is a qualified hospitalist?

The recent formation of the American Board of Hospital Medicine (ABHM) creates a new wrinkle in the ongoing quest by hospitalists to define themselves and get recognition for their unique skills. Many hospitalists have been seeking a special board certification unique to their specialty. The new ABHM would seem to fit the bill, except for a few things.

One problem is that ABHM is not part of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which is the umbrella organization for the major boards such as American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and American Board of Surgery (ABS). ABHM belongs to an organization called the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), which hosts a number of boards that parallel the major boards. [more]

Tips to combat board certification scams

Back in October, the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) issued a warning, cautioning against “phony certification boards.” Among the organizations listed as fraudulent was the American Board of Hospitalist Physicians (ABOHP), a non-profit medical organization based in Highland, IN that offers “diplomate certification,” according to the ABOHP Web site. The ABOHP is a component of the Congregation of Fellowship Organization for Medical, Humanitarian, Scientific, Education, and Religious and Family Values Ministries, according to the Web site. [more]

Board certification for hospitalists coming soon?

The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) announced on Wednesday the new American Board of Hospital Medicine, offering board certification exclusively for inpatient specialists for the first time ever, according to the Jan. 12 ABPS press release.

In response, however, Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM)’s President Pat Cawley, MD, sent an email notification to its members two days later, stating SHM has no ties to ABPS: “The Society of Hospital Medicine is in no way affiliated with the American Board of Physician Specialties and was not involved with the creation of the so-called American Board in Hospital Medicine,” said Crawley in the press release. [more]