MOC Update: Two Certification Programs Transition from Pilot to Permanent

Last year, the Medical Association worked to bring together physicians, medical organizations, state medical societies, hospitals, health systems, patients and the American Board of Medical Specialties to investigate the future of board certification. The first in-person meeting in March produced testimony on continuing certification from stakeholders who provided their perspectives and experiences with continuing certification, the challenges they currently face, and their thoughts about opportunities about the future. Now, the pilot certification programs for two medical specialty organizations has become permanent.

In May, the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Board of Anesthesiology each received notification from the ABMS that their respective Maintenance of Certification pilot programs have been made permanent options for specific members of their groups who reach specific standards.

American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

The MOC pilot program is now a permanent option for ABOG Diplomates. If Diplomates meet the high-performance threshold determined by ABOG on the Part II: Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment component in Years 1-6 of the MOC cycle, they can receive credit for meeting the MOC external assessment requirement. Diplomates must also continue to meet other MOC standards, including the annual MOC Professionalism and Professional Standing requirements. Upon entering Year 6, Diplomates will receive notification they qualify for the new pathway on their personal page in the ABOG physician portal if they have met all requirements. Diplomates that do not meet the eligibility requirements will continue to meet the external assessment standard by passing the MOC examination.

ABOG members can read the full statement here.

American Board of Anesthesiology, Inc.

The American Board of Anesthesiology’s MOCA Minute pilot is now a permanent component of the Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology™ (MOCA®) program. MOCA Minute launched in 2014 as a web-based tool that was expanded in 2016 to include most Diplomates. In 2017 those maintaining subspecialty certificates began participating as well. Diplomates answer 30 multiple-choice questions online each calendar quarter (120 per year) at their convenience. Their questions are customized based on which certificate(s) physicians are maintaining and their practice profile, which they fill out indicating the focus of the clinical practice. Upon answering questions, they learn immediately if their answers are correct and see the rationale, a critique and links to learning resources related to the questions.

ABA members can read the full statement here.