New Continuous Certification Program Mission Statement of the ABS - - PDF document

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American Board of Surgery

New Continuous Certification Program

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Mission Statement of the ABS

The American Board of Surgery serves the public and the specialty of surgery by providing leadership in surgical education and practice, by promoting excellence through rigorous evaluation and examination, and by promoting the highest standards for professionalism, lifelong learning, and the continuous certification of surgeons in practice.

THE AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGERY | www.absurgery.org 3

History of the ABS

• Founded in 1937 by the leading

surgical societies to differentiate formally trained surgeons from doctors in general practice

• Formed “to protect the public and

improve the specialty”

• One of the first boards to institute

recertification (1976)

• Continuous certification will help ensure

future self-regulation

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The ABS Today

• 31,000 current diplomates
• 94% certified in general surgery
• 95% are participating in continuous

certification

• All ABS directors are required to

participate in continuous certification

• Through its board, component boards

and advisory councils, the ABS includes representation from 44 societies, plus 3 at-large directors

THE AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGERY | www.absurgery.org

Directors, committee members, question writers, and examiners are all volunteers who donate their time and expertise to the ABS

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ABS Leadership – 2017-2018

• Dr. Mary Klingensmith, Chair
• Dr. Spence Taylor, Vice Chair
• Dr. Craig Kent, Vice Chair Elect

Current Focus: ○ Improving continuous certification so it is more valuable

to diplomates

○ Improving surgical training to better prepare graduating

residents for practice

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Executive Director

• Following an extensive national search,
• Dr. Jo Buyske named new ED

○ Previously associate executive director and

director of evaluation

○ Still clinically active ○ Assumed executive director role Sept. 1, 2017

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Diplomate Outreach

• New “Speakers’ Bureau” to ensure ABS representation

at as many surgical society meetings as possible

• Newsletters, surveys, volunteer opportunities
• Social media: Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
• Notifications when action is required
• Make sure we can reach you! Update your contact

information anytime at www.absurgery.org

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Why Continuous Certification?

• Establishes a national standard for maintaining knowledge

and skill in surgical practice

• Documents the ongoing commitment of surgeons to

professionalism, lifelong learning, and quality patient care

• Upholds board certification as a standard of quality defined by

the surgical community

• Gives the surgical community a proactive position in the

health care quality debate, using surgeon-developed metrics and reporting methods

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Why Change?

• ABS recognized that the process needed to be more

convenient and more reflective of a surgeon’s practice

• Initial survey sent to thousands of diplomates in Fall 2016
• Survey results showed diplomates wanted a program that

was more flexible and more practice-related Changes announced in July 2017 to begin a new direction for continuous certification

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Reporting Cycle

Now in effect:

• 5-year reporting cycle

○ Diplomates will now report every 5 years, rather than 3, on

professional standing, CME, and practice assessment activity

○ Reporting will remain an online process ○ Current cycles have been extended by 2 years ○ Check your status anytime on ABS website

THE AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGERY | www.absurgery.org 11

Self-Assessment

Now in effect:

• 50% reduction in self-assessment

○ New requirement: 150 Category 1 CME credits over 5 years,

with 50 including self-assessment

○ Self-assessment means CME program includes a quiz or test,

with at least a 75% passing score

○ See ABS website for more details and resources

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New Assessment Option

Starting in 2018:

• ABS will offer a new assessment process for general surgery,

with other specialties to be phased in

• The secure exam will continue as an option in 2018
• Survey sent in August to all diplomates to better understand

what would be most helpful: content, frequency, etc. ○ Nearly 10,000 diplomates responded – 33% response rate

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Feedback

• August 2017 Survey Results:

○ 58% prefer a more frequent, open book, lower-stakes assessments

to the 10-year model

○ 67% would like to complete the assessment no more frequently than

every two years

○ Are strongly in favor of being tested on both core surgery concepts

(86%) and practice-specific content (83%)

• Using this feedback, we have begun building the new assessment

for general surgery that will be offered in 2018

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Timeline for 2018

• New general surgery assessment

○ Registration open Aug. 1 – Oct. 15 ○ Assessment window open from Sept. 7 – Nov. 5

• Secure recertification exam

○ Registration also open Aug. 1 – Oct. 15 ○ Exam offered Nov. 26 – Dec. 10

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New General Surgery Assessment

• General surgery assessment will have 40 questions:

○ 20 core surgical principles ○ 20 practice-related area: Select from General Surgery,

Abdomen, Alimentary Tract or Breast for 2018

• More practice-related areas will be added as program develops,

with diplomate and society input

• References and a list of topics covered in the assessment will be

shared with diplomates in advance

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Educational Model

• Assessments will have an educational format

○ Open book ○ No time limit per question ○ Immediate learner feedback – correct/incorrect with rationales

• Take on own computer – no testing center!
• Complete it at the time and place of your choosing

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Scoring

• Second attempt to answer incorrect questions will be
• ffered at end of assessment
• Immediate results based on overall score (correct answers

from 1st + 2nd attempts)

• Must get a total of 80% correct after the two attempts to

pass the assessment

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Timing

• Must pass one assessment every other year
• Time Limits

○ Maximum of 2 weeks to complete assessment once started ○ Can save results at any point and return later ○ If unsuccessful, can retake the assessment the following year

(grace year)

○ If unsuccessful in grace year, must pass a secure exam

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Annual Fee

• Once registered for first assessment, will be required to pay an

annual fee of $285

• Fee covers one assessment every other year and general

program participation

• Reflects ongoing development and implementation of the new

assessment program

• Diplomates must be up to date on payments and other

Continuous Certification requirements to take assessment

THE AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGERY | www.absurgery.org 20

Reduction in CME and Self-Assessment

• Once diplomates pass their first general surgery assessment,

the CME and self-assessment requirement will change to:

125 CME credits over 5 years with no self-assessment required

• CME must be related to your practice – no other limitation
• n subject matter
• CME completed for state board requirements qualifies

THE AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGERY | www.absurgery.org 21

New Assessment Enrollment

• All general surgery diplomates must begin taking new assessment

by 2020. This includes diplomates who take secure exam in 2018

• New general surgery diplomates, starting with those who became

certified in fall 2017, will begin taking assessment 3 years after they become certified

• A diplomate's certification status will then be contingent on

passing the assessment every other year, as well as meeting other program requirements

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Pathway for Lapsed Diplomates

• New pathway for lapsed general surgery certificate holders

to regain ABS certification using the new assessment

• This pathway will only be available for three years: 2018,

2019 and 2020

• After 2020, passing a secure exam will be required
• See ABS website for more details

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Updating Your Status

• As part of new program:

○ Two reference letters will be required every five years ○ One operative log (of any specialty) will be required every 10 years

• Diplomates are encouraged to maintain all of their

information (e.g., privileges, CME, etc.) on an ongoing basis

• Go directly to certstatus.absurgery.org to check your status and

submit information

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Other Specialties

• Similar assessment programs are in development for
• ther ABS specialties, to launch over next few years
• Each ABS component board will determine the

assessment content for their specialty, with input from their diplomates and societies

• ABS staff are working on a streamlined process to assist

diplomates who maintain multiple certificates

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Advantages of New Assessment Program

• Evaluates knowledge and judgment that is more relevant to a

diplomate’s daily practice

• Structured to highlight education with emphasis on changes in

contemporary practice

• More convenience and flexibility
• Less need to prepare, less anxiety to take
• Cost and time savings – no travel or time away from practice
• Maintains focus on improving patient care

THE AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGERY | www.absurgery.org 26

Future Plans

• Beyond these efforts, the ABS will continue to work to

make continuous certification more convenient and beneficial for diplomates

• Goal is a flexible process that supports diplomates and

values their time and resources, while upholding our commitment to the public to maintain high standards

• Diplomates will be kept updated and surveyed regularly

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Thank You

Questions?

Feedback and questions may also be directed to cc@absurgery.org

THE AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGERY | www.absurgery.org