Maintenance of Certification — The Value to Patients and Physicians

Journal of the American Medical Association (02/05/24) Roswell, Robert O.; Johnson, Erica N.; Jain, Rajeev

In a viewpoint piece, representatives from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) discuss the value of the maintenance of certification (MOC) program for patients and physicians. Recent changes to the program include the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA), which provides physicians with greater flexibility and faster feedback compared with the traditional long-form MOC assessment. The authors note that "approximately 80% of ABIM-certified physicians across all disciplines are choosing the LKA over the traditional" recertification process. The LKA, which was introduced in 2022, does not require preparation, takes an average of 4 hours a year to complete, and provides immediate feedback. The authors add that with the launch of the LKA, ABIM expanded content generation to more than 1,000 volunteers, specifically including "a majority of practicing physicians from the community who work in a broad range of settings." Additionally, they note, "ABIM lowered the 10-year cost of the continuing certification program for all physicians — regardless of how many certificates they hold — if they participate in the LKA to maintain them." The authors acknowledge that some physicians are questioning the value of certification "at a time when physicians are overwhelmed by bureaucratic requirements of prior authorization, required institutional trainings in everything from workplace safety to billing and coding, and collectively recovering from the massive and ongoing trauma that is COVID-19." However, they write, "With physicians' input and keeping patients at the forefront, ABIM's programs will continue to evolve. Physicians earning and maintaining certification should be recognized for their accomplishments in obtaining and keeping their medical knowledge current throughout their careers."

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