ABIM May 5, 2016 Announcement on MOC
A Small Step in the Right Direction, But Much Work Remains
ACG has been fighting to address the significant concerns many ABIM diplomates have with Maintenance of Certification (MOC). ACG has called for major changes to MOC, including an end to the high-stakes, closed book exam. Today, ABIM has announced some changes that appear consistent with our principles, but there is still a long way to go.
ABIM’s announcement is a welcome step forward in that it reflects an openness to move towards more reasonable assessments for maintaining Board Certification. However, there are still many unanswered questions, and critical details remain unclear. The content of the assessment and its relevance to the realities of clinical GI practice remain open issues.
The College is especially concerned that changes to reform MOC create maximal flexibility for diplomates to choose options that are a good fit for them and reduce the onerous, high-stakes nature of the process.
Reaction to today ABIM’s announcement must be tempered until the full and final details of these changes are fleshed out.
ACG’s Commitment to You
The College continues to stand firm in its fundamental commitment to push ABIM to re-envision and overhaul the MOC process. We are guided by these Core Principles:
- MOC needs to be simpler, less intrusive and less expensive
- We continue to support ending the high-stakes, every-10-year exam
- We do not support closed book assessments as they do not represent the current realities of medicine in the digital age
- 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 in which the diplomate may not practice
- We support the principles of lifelong learning as evidenced by ongoing CME activities, rather than lifelong testing
ACG is committed to providing our members with timely and relevant educational programs developed by your peers which enhance your ability to care for patients.
The College’s extensive offering of CME for MOC programs are thoughtfully designed to advance GI practice while providing engaging ways for GI specialists to stay up-to-date. Participation in ACG’s postgraduate education courses is a pathway to meet your needs for MOC knowledge points in a collegial environment for scientific exchange.
Read the ABIM May 5, 2016 Statement