ABIM is committed to listening and engaging with physicians and others in the internal medicine community about how we can improve our programs. Check out the progress we have made and the further action we are planning based on the feedback we’ve received so far:
Changes We’ve Already Implemented
Points & Requirements
More CME Counts for MOC
Working with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), we increased the available options for earning Maintenance of Certification (MOC) points. Thousands of activities physicians already participate in such as grand rounds, conferences, case discussions, and reading medical journals now earn both MOC points and CME credits. Learn More About CME Counts for MOC
Underlying Certification Rule Changes
Beginning January 1, 2016, physicians certified in nine subspecialties of internal medicine no longer need to maintain underlying certifications to stay certified. Learn More About Underlying Certification Rule Changes
Assessment Enhancements
Grace Period Instituted
Physicians who take and fail an MOC assessment may be eligible for a 1-year grace period before they lose their certification. In addition, they pay 50% less on their first re-take exam. Learn More About Grace Period Instituted
New Exam Blueprint
ABIM invited physicians to provide their feedback on what they believe is important to know in practice. ABIM also used national data on condition prevalence to inform the blueprint. Then ABIM used it to create a new blueprint and update the Internal Medicine MOC Exam. Learn More About New Exam Blueprint
Standard Setting Review
When exam blueprints and therefore exam content gets significantly updated, what counts as a passing score also needs to be reset. ABIM is broadening the input into the standard setting process by using panels that include both practicing physicians and members of each specialty’s exam committee. Learn More About Standard Setting Review
Enhanced Exam Score Report
ABIM researchers interviewed physicians to develop an enhanced exam score report that provides better explanation of exam results and identifies specific areas for further study from the questions that were missed. Learn More About Enhanced Exam Score Report
Diplomate Engagement
Community Engagement Department Established
ABIM formed the Community Engagement department to engage with and listen to the internal medicine community and individual physician’s feedback regarding ways to improve MOC. Learn More About Community Engagement Department Established
Diplomates Surveyed
ABIM invited all diplomates with a valid email address (N=195,867) to tell us what they thought about proposed changes to the 10-year assessment. We heard a lot from our community, and this feedback will help us as we move forward to develop new assessment methods with physicians. Learn More About Diplomates Surveyed
More Changes We’re Working On
Assessment Enhancements
New MOC Assessment Option Launching
In 2018, we plan to begin offering a new MOC assessment option. ABIM’s assessment taken every 10 years will remain available, and both options will reflect the input ABIM has received from a diverse range of physicians and stakeholders over the past year. Learn More About New MOC Assessment Option Launching
External Resources Study
ABIM has launched a study to look at the use of external resources during assessments (also called “Open Book”). About 1,000 physicians volunteered to participate in the summer 2016 study. The results will be made public later this year. Learn More About External Resources Study
Points & Requirements
More CME for MOC to be Approved
ABIM plans to continue to find ways to recognize clinically meaningful activities physicians are already doing, such as participation in health system improvement activities or subspecialty society registries for MOC credit. This is an effort to decrease redundancy and increase efficiency for our physicians. Learn More About More CME for MOC to be Approved
Tell us what you think so we can design programs that physicians find meaningful. Share your thoughts by emailing rbaronmd@abim.org and subscribe to the Transforming ABIM blog to stay informed.
