He said there is good reason for that.
Explore This Issue
January 2012“Participation in MOC may have fiscal advantages, and it may be closely linked to maintenance of your state medical license,” he said. “So those are two giant carrots, together with what I think is the most important carrot, which is to improve patient care. That, I think, ultimately will win the day.”
Dr. Miller said it is a great opportunity to get the best kind of education: feedback related specifically to your own work.
“In other words, this is what a diplomate does,” he said. “So then he/she can focus particularly on those areas that could be improved in things that you actually do and see the results of it.”
Maintenance of Certification: FOUR PARTS
Part I: Professional Standing
- Must have certificate from the American Board of Otolaryngology
- Must have an unrestricted medical license
- Must maintain privileges at hospital/ambulatory surgery center
Part II: Continuing Education and Self-Assessment
- Part of a lifelong learning program
- 25 CME units per year
- Completion of self-assessment program that is clinically oriented, is specialty specific and is aided by online modules
- Non-punitive assessment
Part III: Cognitive Examination
- Secure, closed-book exam administered at testing centers around the country
- Totally clinical, no basic science
- 80 questions: 12 on fundamentals, and the other 68 on a selected practice area
- Focuses on specific practice, with clinical fundamentals and one specialty module
- Cannot be used to imply subcertification, except for neurotology and sleep medicine
Part IV: Performance in Practice
- Based on a quality improvement approach
- Will look at doctor-patient interaction and outcomes
- Will meet Physician Quality Reporting System requirement