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AAO, ABO developing recertification program
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SAN FRANCISCO — The American Academy of Ophthalmology is developing a knowledge base to help surgeons maintain their certification.
The American Board of Ophthalmology has created the process through which all time-limited board-certified ophthalmologists will maintain their certification. To help surgeons prepare for the recertification exams, the AAO will develop a knowledge base of material important to the practice of ophthalmology, the organization announced. This knowledge base will also serve as the basis for the exams created by the ABO.
The committee developing the knowledge base program will identify clinically relevant knowledge objectives, references and content to submit to the ABO. Richard L. Abbott, MD, will lead the group developing the knowledge base. Once completed, the knowledge base will be continually updated and available to all ophthalmologists. Dr. Abbott is secretary of Quality of Care and Knowledge Base Development for the AAO.
In an AAO press release, Denis M. O’Day, MD, executive director of the ABO, said the MOC process is designed to promote fundamental quality in health care. It was implemented in response to public concerns over the quality of care.
Harry A. Zink, MD, AAO’s secretary for member services, will be chairman of a 10-member panel overseeing the development of clinically relevant material for comprehensive ophthalmologists. The panel will also define knowledge objectives for other nonclinical areas and patient safety issues as part of the MOC process.
Other panel members include Samuel Masket, MD, cataract and anterior segment; Kirk R. Wilhelmus, MD, cornea/external disease; Anne L. Coleman, MD, PhD, glaucoma; Larry P. Frohman, MD, neuro-ophthalmology/orbit; Jeffrey A. Nerad, MD, oculoplastics/orbit; R. Michael Siatkowski, MD, pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus; Steven C. Schallhorn, MD, refractive management/intervention; Travis A. Meredith, MD, retina/vitreous; and Narsing A. Rao, MD, uveitis. Each of these ophthalmologists will lead a panel of seven or eight surgeons to develop the guidelines in their areas.