In 2024, ABIM will launch a new version of the Internal Medicine Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA^®) and a traditional, 10-year Maintenance of Certification (MOC) exam designed for those who practice primarily in an inpatient setting.

The field of hospital medicine is rapidly growing, and physicians have asked us to continue exploring the creation of assessment options that more closely align with what they see in practice. The ABIM Internal Medicine Specialty Board has taken the lead on this work, and the process was guided by deliberation and approvals by the ABIM Council and Board of Directors. These boards are comprised primarily of practicing physicians.

The decision to create the new inpatient version of LKA and the traditional, 10-year MOC exam was also done in close collaboration with the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM), with whom ABIM fielded a survey of those practicing in a hospital setting to learn about their assessment preferences. It was through this ongoing dialogue with our society partners and analysis of the needs of our diplomates that led to the decision to create this new assessment option.

“SHM was impressed with the rigor ABIM used in evaluating how to best serve hospitalists through assessment options that align with what they see in practice,” said Eric Howell, MD, MHM, Chief Executive Officer of SHM. “That process made it clear that inpatient-focused assessments would benefit a greater number of internists practicing in a hospital setting and help them affirm their knowledge is current. SHM supports this new inpatient-focused assessment option, which places patient care at the forefront, and will be available to tens of thousands of internists.”

This inpatient version of the LKA and traditional, 10-year MOC exam will be available to any eligible diplomate certified in Internal Medicine, and may be a good option for those seeking to affirm their inpatient care knowledge.

If you would like to participate in either of the new inpatient MOC options, and are due for an Internal Medicine or a Focused Practice in Hospital Medicine (FPHM) assessment in 2023, you should enroll in the Internal Medicine LKA in 2023. You can make the switch to the inpatient version when it becomes available as long as you are actively participating in the Internal Medicine LKA.

For those in the FPHM program, to choose this option, you must first withdraw from the FPHM program, which will reinstate your Internal Medicine certification. You can do this by sending an email to ABIM at request@abim.org. Once your withdrawal is confirmed, you can enroll in the Internal Medicine LKA and participate in it in 2023.

If you transition to the inpatient-focused version of the Internal Medicine LKA, you will begin a new five-year LKA cycle and will remain Certified as long as you continue to meet the LKA Participation Requirement, and any other MOC requirements.

You can also choose to take the traditional 10-year MOC exam in Internal Medicine in 2023. If you pass, your next assessment in that discipline would be due in 10 years, and you would not be eligible to enroll in the inpatient LKA during that time.

For more information about the LKA, please visit our dedicated website. For more information on the new inpatient LKA, see the FAQ page.