Don't Miss These Important ABR Changes!
In 2012, the ABR began implementing a new MOC process, known as continuous certification. Closely tied to this policy change is ABMS public reporting of diplomate status, which will begin in spring 2013. Read more details about these important initiatives and how they affect you.
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Online Payment Coming
in 2013
Currently, ABR diagnostic radiology (DR) and radiation oncology (RO) candidates, along with all MOC participants, may pay their annual fees online using Mastercard or Visa. Beginning in early 2013, all ABR DR and RO candidates and diplomates will be required to make their annual payments online. During the remainder of 2013, more and more types of ABR payments will be converted to online transactions. To make online payment more convenient, the ABR will add American Express and e-check capabilities. No wire transfers or checks sent through the mail will be accepted. Read more.
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Discontinuation of ABMS Patient Safety Courses
Effective December 31, 2012, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) will no longer offer patient safety courses, including its Patient Safety Improvement Program, Patient Safety Foundations, and Quality Improvement in Practice offerings through HealthStream. Read more.
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Volunteer Spotlight
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Thomas M. Dykes, MD, FACR
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ABR volunteers are highly regarded and rank among the most knowledgeable members of the radiology profession. Coming from a variety of practice environments all over the United States, they unite to support and advance the ABR's mission and purpose. In this issue of The Beam, we'd like to introduce you to ABR volunteer Thomas M. Dykes, MD, FACR, who serves as division chief of abdominal omaging as well as director of the Abdominal Imaging Fellowship Program at Penn State's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
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Dr. Dykes began examining at the oral boards in Louisville for the GU section in 2005 and has done so each subsequent year. Since 2009, he also has served on the GU Oral Board Case Selection Committee, and since 2010, on the GU-MOC Exam Committee. When asked why he volunteers, Dr. Dykes stated that his motivation is to give back to his profession. Read more.
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ABR Foundation Begins National Initiative
The American Board of Radiology Foundation (ABRF) recently launched its new Safe and Appropriate Medical Imaging initiative, which convenes a series of summit conferences involving representatives from the public sector, private sector, and medical profession (public-private-professional partnership) in medical imaging. The initiative was launched at the first of these summits, held August 23-24, 2012, in Bethesda, Maryland.
Read more.
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The ABRF Summit: My Perspective
By Matthew Starr, medical student, St. Louis University School of Medicine
Having the opportunity to attend the ABRF's Summit meeting this past August was a truly great experience. The meeting was held for the purpose of developing a national strategy focused on the safe and appropriate use of medical imagining. What set this meeting apart was the inclusion of patient advocates who made clear the wishes of the patients at the onset of the meeting, as well as the manufacturers who stated their continued devotion to improving imaging studies for the good of the public. The meeting stressed the importance of including all healthcare professions and stakeholders, working as an interprofessional team to improve the imaging process. Read more.
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Volume 5, Issue 3, Winter 2012
 We hope you will enjoy reading this issue of The Beam. If you have questions or suggestions about how we can improve our newsletter to better meet your needs, please send an e-mail to abr@theabr.org. If you'd like to share this newsletter with a friend or colleague, .
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From the Editor
New Date Set for Public Reporting/ Core Practice Exam on the Way
by Thomas H. Berquist, MD, ABR Trustee
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 In the Spring 2012 issue of The Beam, we discussed the initiation of public reporting of diplomate Maintenance of Certification (MOC) status by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) and all Member Boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). The public reporting initiative was to include all practicing diagnostic radiologists, radiation oncologists, and medical physicists, beginning August 31, 2012.
However, the ABR was concerned that the August date might not provide sufficient time for all physicians and physicists enrolled in MOC to update their personal databases (PDBs). This deadline might have resulted in inaccurate or incomplete reporting. Therefore, the ABR requested and was granted a deferral by the ABMS. The new date for public reporting on the ABMS website (www.certificationmatters.org) and the ABR website (www.theabr.org) is March 15, 2013. Thus, we once again encourage all ABR-certified practicing physicians and medical physicists involved in MOC to update their databases to ensure completeness and accuracy. In addition, this would be an excellent time for physicians with lifetime certificates to enter the MOC process. The Spring 2012 issue of The Beam also described the new continuous certification process for MOC, featuring certificates without "valid-through" dates. We will not review this again in this issue, but readers may refer to the ABR website (www.theabr.org), where they can review the prior issue of The Beam or the 2011-2012 ABR Annual Report for information on the continuous certification process. However, as there is a new date for public reporting, we will review what diplomates must do to meet requirements and what the ABMS and ABR will report. Read more. |
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Ask the Director
Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Radiology Primary Certificate
by Gary J. Becker, MD, ABR Executive Director
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On September 11, 2012, following a nearly six-year joint effort by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) and a Primary Certificate Task Force of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR), the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) approved ABR's proposal to begin issuing certificates in a new primary discipline, Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Radiology (IR/DR). During those six years, the proposal was modified to address the concerns of various stakeholders. By the time the ABMS approved the proposal, it enjoyed broad-based support within the radiology community, as well as support from several other specialties. The final ABMS vote on the IR/DR certificate was unanimous. The new certificate will be one of four primary certificates offered by the ABR, the other three being Diagnostic Radiology, Radiation Oncology, and Medical Physics. In total, the 24 ABMS Member Specialty Boards now offer 38 primary certificates and 122 subspecialty certificates.
Why did the ABR and the SIR Primary Certificate Task Force seek this approval, and why did the ABMS approve the proposal? What will happen to existing Vascular and Interventional Radiology (VIR) fellowship programs and DR residencies? What does the new certificate mean to practicing interventional radiologists (IRs) who have subspecialty certification in VIR? What other changes can be expected? When are the changes expected to take place? These are some of the questions answered in the paragraphs that follow. Read more.
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Maintenance of Certification
ABR Offers Broader Acceptance of Activities to Meet MOC Requirements |
Beginning January 1, 2013, meeting requirements for ABR Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part II (lifelong learning) will become more seamless for ABR diplomates. Separate requirements for CME credits and self-assessment modules (SAMs) will be merged into a single requirement: 75 CME every three years, at least 25 of which must be self-assessment activities. Simultaneously, the definition of self-assessment activities will be expanded to include more than just SAMs (i.e., Self-Assessment Modules, created by societies and other organizations and pre-qualified by the ABR). This will allow AMA Category 1 CME offerings, specifically materials online and in written form with embedded questions, to be counted toward satisfying the ABR MOC self-assessment requirement without prior ABR qualification. Read more.
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Maintenance of Certification
ABR Group Practice Programs
by Milton J. Guiberteau, MD, ABR President-elect
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 As radiology professionals, the ABR trustees understand that our diplomates' commitment to MOC requires an investment in the process, often provided from group practice resources. Accordingly, in response to requests from our MOC participants in group practices, the ABR has developed two new programs to facilitate and, in some cases, to reward group practice MOC efforts. These include the following soon-to-be-available initiatives:
- Whole-Practice MOC Participation Discount, and
- Group Practice Online MOC Administrative Tool
These programs are optional under most circumstances and are available to ABR diplomates in all of our disciplines, including diagnostic radiology, radiation oncology, and medical physics.
Whole-Practice MOC Participation Discount
As an incentive for group practices (defined as two or more ABR diplomates) to encourage MOC participation by all of their members, the ABR will offer a group-wide discount of 10 percent on annual MOC fees. To qualify for the discount, 100 percent of a group's members, including those with ABR lifetime certificates, must enroll in MOC, and the fees of members must be paid in aggregate. Also mandatory is use of the Group Practice Online MOC Administrative Tool (see below), which will become available in mid-2013. The discounted group fees will be available to qualified practices beginning in 2014. Look for more information on this program in the months to come. Read more.
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Focus on Residents
The Core Exam: Tools for Residents
by Duane G. Mezwa, MD, ABR Trustee
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As the Exam of the Future (EOF) now becomes the Exam of Today, the Core Exam becomes a reality, and current PGY-3 residents are anxiously preparing for the inaugural examinations. We have received many questions from residents, as well as program directors, regarding what to expect and, more importantly, how to prepare for this test. The Core Exam is basically divided into two main areas. Items that are of a factual nature and make up a knowledge base will compose about 40 percent of the exam. This will be similar to the current "written" (computerized) exam. Sixty percent of the Core Exam will test higher levels of knowledge, centering around image analysis and differential diagnosis as well as patient management. This section is more in keeping with the current Oral Exam.
With all that in mind, many tools are available, as are just as many offers of advice. On its website, the ABR has posted a study guide outlining all material that could be expected to be seen on the Core Exam and covering all of its aspects. In addition to the ABR's study guide, several new study modules for medical physics have been assembled on the RSNA website. The ABR has also prepared a set of blueprints that can be used as a study guide. We have published each category's blueprint for exam composition on our website. Read more.
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2013 Core Pilot Exam Information
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All third-year residents who are eligible to take the first Core Exam in October 2013 will also be eligible to take the Core Pilot Exam in June 2013. To accommodate all residents who wish to take the pilot, the ABR will offer two administrations - one on June 20-21, 2013, and the other on June 24-25, 2013. Each exam will be administered in two sessions: one the afternoon of the first day, and another the morning of the second day. This duplicates the length of the Core Examination as it will be administered in October 2013.
The Core Pilot Exam will be offered simultaneously at the ABR's Chicago and Tucson Exam Centers. Candidates will be able to register for the Core Pilot Exam beginning in early 2013, and instructions will be made available at that time.
Incentive to candidates:
- Gain experience with taking the Core Pilot Exam in the same exam center where you will take the actual Core Exam.
- Obtain performance feedback in time to direct additional preparation for the Core Exam in October 2013.
Additional Information:
- A practice Core Exam will be available on the ABR website at the end of 2012.
- A pilot of this type will be held only in 2013.
- Candidates' performance on the pilot will NOT affect their results on the actual Core Exam.
- The ABR will use data gathered from the Core Pilot Exam to evaluate the performance of the overall exam, and to make appropriate adjustments in content configuration and/or scoring approach prior to the first administration of the Core Exam in October 2013.
As further details become available, more information will be posted on the ABR Website.
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Focus on Radiation Oncology
ABR Foundation Receives Grant from Varian Medical Systems for National Brachytherapy Registry
by Paul E. Wallner, DO, ABR Associate Executive Director for Radiation Oncology
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Varian Medical Systems has awarded a $100,000 grant to the American Board of Radiology Foundation (ABRF) to establish a national brachytherapy registry. The new registry, which is the first such nationwide modality-based project in radiation oncology, is linked to the American Board of Radiology's (ABR's) Innovation Pathway in Maintenance of Certification (MOC) for Focused Practice Recognition in Brachytherapy (FPRB).
"The ABRF greatly appreciates this generous unrestricted grant from Varian Medical Systems," said Glenn S. Forbes, MD, chair of the ABRF Board of Directors. "This project aligns with the Foundation's overall mission of demonstrating, enhancing, and continuously improving accountability to the public in the safe and appropriate use of medical imaging and radiation therapy. It promises to greatly enrich our understanding of the use of brachytherapy."
ABR Executive Director Gary J. Becker, MD, also emphasized the importance of the funding from Varian: "Without this grant, the ABR would not have had the resources necessary to establish the new registry, which is crucial to our Focused Practice in Brachytherapy initiative and to our understanding of current practices and outcomes of this important therapeutic modality," he said. Read more.
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Focus on Medical Physics
Medical Physics Training - Early Results of CAMPEP-Trained Residents
by the ABR Medical Physics Trustees
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ABR Medical Physics Trustees (left to right): Richard L. Morin, PhD; Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD; and Jerry D. Allison, PhD
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Until recently, the clinical training of medical physicists was not standardized. In some cases, graduates of classical physics programs took clinical positions without any specific medical physics education. Others attended graduate programs in medical physics, but these programs offered widely disparate curricula. In particular, some educational programs provided extensive clinical training while others did not. Some graduates subsequently obtained clinical training through a fellowship. Other fellowships were largely research, with only a minor clinical component. Many medical physics graduates went directly to employment in a hospital, clinic, or consulting group. Some of these employment situations offered a wide spectrum of early experience while others encouraged the physicists to specialize in narrow areas of practice.
This diversity of training was reflected in low passing rates for the oral board exams in medical physics. The typical passing rate was slightly over 55 percent (see Figure 1 in the full article). Discussions with oral board examiners noted that a variety of issues led to the low passing rate:
- Candidates often showed extensive knowledge in narrow areas but lacked knowledge in other areas.
- Diagnostic physics candidates demonstrated a lack of knowledge in ultrasound and MRI.
- Candidates often showed an inability to relate medical physics activities to the broad clinical care of the patient.
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Thank you for reading this issue of The Beam. If you have any comments, suggestions, or questions, please email abr@theabr.org.
Sincerely,
Gary J. Becker, MD, Executive Director
American Board of Radiology |
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