ABIM survey indicates physicians want MOC changes

Results from a survey of board-certified physicians indicate a high level of dissatisfaction with current maintenance of certification procedures, according to the ABIM.

More than 9,200 physicians responded to the ABIM survey and a majority expressed interest in MOC program changes, according to a press release from the organization.

“In our efforts to deliver a meaningful, performance-based credential that signifies something important about physicians, the survey results provide invaluable guidance as to what physicians favor in the assessment process,” Richard J. Baron, MD, president and CEO of ABIM, said in the release. “These insights will empower our decision-making for the future by giving us direct insight into what physicians value as future components of our evolving MOC assessment.”

ABIM analyzed 360 responses as a sample and reported several key findings:

56% of physicians responded positively to shorter, more frequent assessments;
69.6% of physicians are dissatisfied with the current MOC program;
76% of physicians responded positively to access to online materials during an assessment;
76% of physicians responded that they want board certification to signify that they are staying current in practice knowledge;
79.4% responded positively to a test out assessment option; and
86.4% responded positively to taking the assessment at their home or office.

Additional analysis of the results will direct continued engagement efforts, Baron said, which include a study of open-book MOC assessments.

“Opinions from physicians gleaned through the survey will be used to frame future discussions and refine details about potential assessment ideas,” Richard G. Battaglia, MD, chief medical officer of ABIM, said in the release. “Results indicate that physicians are interested in exploring all of the ideas presented in the survey. ABIM will continue to engage physicians and societies to explore assessment models that are reflective of practice today.”

ABIM presented the results of the survey to several medical societies. It stated that the ABIM Board of Directors and Council are "considering physician-guided recommendations about options for updating the MOC assessment process as well as a timetable to seek feedback from physicians, launch a pilot, evaluate the pilot and ultimately implement changes." ABIM plans to release that timetable this spring.