The controversy may continue, but MOC is probably here to stay. Although this may not be the best way to assure the public that physicians are competent, it’s the current choice with the institution whose responsibility it is to do just that. Know that the ACR will continue to advocate and provide support for our members. That includes those officially “meeting requirements” and those “not meeting requirements.”
At the End of the Day
When the extraordinary business of this year as ACR president wanes, I will likely begin the MOC process myself. After all, I wouldn’t want anyone to think that I was not all that my reputation purports me to be. I may resent the time and money the process will entail, and I will continue to voice my concerns to the ABIM. No matter what my choice, I feel strongly that the ACR will stand with me in the endeavor as the ACR continues Advancing Rheumatology!
Dr. Joseph Flood is a rheumatologist at the Columbus Arthritis Center and adjunct professor of internal medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health, both in Columbus. Contact him at [email protected].
MOC in 2014—What Does It Look Like?
New certificates (including renewals) no longer have expiration dates because MOC is a continuous process. However, physicians who have time remaining on their certificates will continue to be certified up until that certificate’s expiration date, and those with certificates that are valid indefinitely will always be certified.
Learn more about how the new requirements specifically affect you by logging into your MOC Status Report at https://www.abim.org/ONLINE/DEFAULT.ASPX.
The new requirements are:
- Earn some MOC points every two years
- Earn 100 MOC points every five years
- Complete a minimum of 20 points in self-assessment medical knowledge
- Complete a minimum of 20 points in self-assessment practice assessment
- Complete a patient survey
- Complete a patient safety module
- Points count for all certificates and do not need to be specialty specific. You only need to earn 100 total points, not 100 for each certificate.
- Pass the secure exam every 10 years
All newly issued and renewed certificates do not have expiration dates.
References
- Maintenance of certification: Petition to recall ABIM’s MOC requirements hits 15,000 signatures; recertification rates drop below 80% for internal medicine. Policy and Medicine. May 20, 2014. http://www.policymed.com/2014/05/maintenance-of-certification-petition-to-recall-abims-moc-requirements-hits-10000-signatures-recertification-pass-rates.html?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=FeedBlitzRss&utm_content=Maintenance+of+Certification%3a+Petition+to+Recall+ABIM’s+MOC+Requirements+Hits+10%2c000+Signatures%3b+Recertification+Pass+Rates+Drop+Below+80%25+for+Internal+Medicine.
- Statement from Richard J. Baron, MD, MACP, president & CEO of the American Board of Internal Medicine regarding anti-MOC petition. American Board of Internal Medicine. April 28, 2014. http://www.abim.org/news/statement-from-richard-baron-regarding-anti-moc-petition.aspx.
- Wood S. Not today: Cardiologists, MOC deadline extended to April 30. Medscape. April 1, 2014. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/822847.
- Physicians enroll in the ABIM MOC program in record numbers. American Board of Internal Medicine. May 8, 2014. http://www.abim.org/news/physicians-enroll-in-ABIM-MOC-program-in-record-numbers.aspx.
- Centor RM, Fleming DA, Moyer DV. Maintenance of certification: Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. May 13, 2014. http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1871129&resultClick=3.
- First-time taker pass rates—Maintenance of certification [November 1997–November 2013]. American Board of Internal Medicine. (n.d.) http://www.abim.org/pdf/pass-rates/moc.pdf.
