Newsletters

POSTED: March 12th, 2019
POSTED IN: ABEM, EM Pulse - The Official Newsletter of MOCEP, January/February 2019,

Reprinted with permission from American Board of Emergency Medicine, first printed in the ABEM Memo, Fall 2018.

Purpose of Continuing Certification

During its review of the ABEM MOC Program, the Board of Directors approved the following statement about continuing certification:

The purpose of continuing certification is to maintain the highest standards of Emergency Medicine by partnering with physicians in their ongoing professional development; maintaining core knowledge, judgement, and skills; and integrating new medical advances in patient-centered care.

The Board believes that continuing certification assists physicians in realizing their intrinsic desire to be better clinicians, and deliver safe, high-quality care.

ConCert Alternative:  MyEMCert

The ConCert Exam is the current way for physicians to show that they continue to possess the knowledge and cognitive skills of an ABEM-certified emergency physician.  In 2020, an alternate way to demonstrate these competencies, MyEMCert, will be piloted.  MyEMCert will consist of:

• Shorter, more frequent test modules. Each module will assess one or more specific content areas relevant to the clinical practice of Emergency Medicine, such as cardiovascular disorders or trauma.  The modules will be about an hour long.
• The ability to take a module again if it’s not passed the first time. Additional opportunities will be available to retake and pass a module.  Feedback will be provided to give physicians a clearer idea of the topics they need to review.
• Physicians will take the modules remotely and have access to references. ABEM talked with emergency physicians across the country and developed an alternative that integrates many of their ideas.  ABEM put a high priority on providing physicians flexibility, enhanced relevancy, and greater opportunities to maintain certification.  As this program moves forward, ABEM will continue to reach out to emergency physicians for their ideas.

In summary:

• In 2020, MyEMCert will be piloted
• In 2021, MyEMCert will begin to be phased in

ABEM is working to determine the first year in which a physician could be recertified using MyEMCert.  FAQs about the alternative are available on the ABEM website (www.abem.org).  Click on “Stay Certified” and then “ConCert Exam.”

ConCert Modifications

The ConCert Exam will continue to be administered and will remain an option to maintain certification for the foreseeable future.  EM physicians have recommended modifications to the exam.  Two that have been approved are (1) the exam will be administered twice per year, once in the spring and again in the fall; and (2) by 2020 resource(s) will be available during the exam.

Many physicians have already registered to take the 2019 spring ConCert Exam.

Taking the Concert Exam Early Does Not Reset Certification Date

ABEM-certified physicians can take the ConCert Exam during the last five years of certification.  While all other MOC requirements must be completed to maintain certification, they are not a prerequisite to taking the ConCert Exam.  Taking and passing the exam early does not result in a change in your certification expiration date.  Many physicians are taking advantage of this feature.  Of the 2,666 2018 takers, 1,065 (40 percent) took the exam early (before their certification expiration year).  The figure below breaks down early takers as a percentage of total takers by the number of years prior to their certification expiration date.

When will I receive my new certificate?

ABEM-certified physicians who have met all their ABEM MOC requirements begin a new 10-year certification cycle on January 1, immediately following the expiration of their previous certification.  Paper certificates are mailed near the end of the calendar year to those who have completed all of their requirements in the year in which their current certification expires.  Certificates are mailed later to those who complete their requirements near the end of the year.  Your certification status on your MOC Personal Page will display your new certification date only after your current certification expires.  At any time, you can print a letter verifying that you are ABEM certified and the date that your current certification expires.  This letter, which is also available from your Personal Page, can be used to support any privileging or credentialing activities prior to receiving your new certificate.  By January 1, after the date your current certificate expires, the letter will be updated to include your new certification date.

If you have any questions, please call ABEM at 571-332-4800, ext. 383, or email [email protected].

Did you just certify or recertify?  Claim CME at No Cost

Beginning in 2018, physicians who become certified (pass the ABEM Oral Certification Examination) or complete all recertification requirements can receive 60 AMA PRA Category 1™ Credits at no cost.  ABEM has contracted with the AMA to provide the credits as a benefit to ABEM-certified physicians.  To receive the credits, you need to agree to ABEM sharing your contact information with the AMA.  You can receive the credits by doing the following:

• Sign in to the ABEM portal at abem.org
• On the left navigation, click “View Examination Score History”
• Click the link “AMA CME Credits Attestation” and a form will appear
• Click “I agree” and fill out the form

Your certificate and confirmation of credit should arrive via email about three months from your request.

Obtaining the no-cost AMA credit through ABEM is available for requirements completed in 2018 forward.  To obtain credit for requirements completed in previous years, physicians must apply directly to the AMA and pay the required fee.

If you have questions please contact ABEM at 517-332-4800 x 383, or [email protected].