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AGA supports ABIM's extended suspension of practice assessment for MOC
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AGA has released a statement in support of the American Board of Internal Medicine’s decision to extend its suspension of practice improvement, patient safety and patient voice requirements for its Maintenance of Certification program through Dec. 2018.
“Throughout 2015, AGA has pushed ABIM to reconsider the burdensome recertification process. Gastroenterologists need a recertification system that fosters active learning, not high-stakes testing,” the AGA wrote in the statement.
AGA will continue to work with other societies to establish the best MOC approach based on principles it released earlier this year. These principles focused on a “simpler, less intrusive and less expensive” MOC process; ending the 10-year exam, out-of-date closed-book assessments and unnecessary assessments in specialty areas in which physicians do not practice; and replacing lifelong testing with ongoing CME.
“We hear you that MOC is a burden and we will continue to push for the principles of individualization, specialization and dropping the high-stakes exam — sooner rather than later,” the statement said.
MOC requirements that are still in effect include the 10-year exam, earning 100 MOC points every 5 years and completion of some MOC activity every 2 years. Because requirements vary based on year of certification or recertification, AGA encouraged physicians to visit the ABIM Physician Portal in its statement.
Perspective
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Kenneth R. DeVault, MD, FACG
The American College of Gastroenterology continues to work with the ABIM and other societies across the spectrum of internal medicine to help remake the process for Maintenance of Certification (MOC). We applaud the extension of the suspension of the practice improvement, patient safety and patient voice requirements. Our principles remain:
1. MOC needs to be simpler, less intrusive and less expensive.2. We support ending the high-stakes, every 10-years exam.
3. We do not support closed book assessments, as they do not represent the current realities of medicine in the digital age.
4. We support the principles of lifelong learning as evidenced by ongoing CME activities, rather than lifelong testing.
5. We support the concept that, for the many diplomates who specialize within certain areas of gastroenterology and hepatology, MOC should not need to include high-stakes assessments of areas where the diplomate may not practice.
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