★ MAY: The Board of Directors of the ACGME approved allowing emergency physicians to formally enter surgical critical care (SCC) fellowships, providing a pathway for EM diplomates to train for and take the subspecialty certification examination. Certification in SCC is through the American Board of Surgery (ABS).

★ OCTOBER: The first certification examination in EMS took place. The first EMS LLSA reading list was posted in July 2013, and the first test is in June 2014.

★ FALL: The first certification examination in clinical informatics, which is open to diplomates of all ABMS Member Boards, took place, and 44 ABEM diplomates took the exam.

2014

★ APRIL: ABEM was approved by the ABMS to become a cosponsor of the subspecialty certification in pain medicine. Subspecialty certification in pain medicine, which had been open to diplomates of any ABMS member board, will be soon available only to diplomates of a cosponsoring board, so this allows ABEM diplomates to continue to have access to the examination.

★ SPRING: ABEM launched a patient safety LLSA, jointly developed by ABEM and ACEP. A CME activity worth 20 credits was also available with the Patient Safety LLSA.

★ JUNE: ABMS approved anesthesiology critical care medicine subspecialty certification co-sponsored by the American Board of Anesthesiology and ABEM.

2015

★ The enhanced oral exam was launched. The new format more closely resembles the manner in which physicians receive and integrate information into emergency care.

2016

★ FEBRUARY: The In-training exam was offered in an online format for the first time.

★ MARCH: Addiction medicine was approved as a subspecialty by the ABMS, open to any physician certified by an ABMS member board.

★ The ABA and ABEM approved combined training in anesthesiology and emergency medicine. Upon completion of these training programs, physicians can access the certification examinations in both specialties.

2017

★ ABEM and the American Board of Osteopathic Emergency Medicine (AOBEM) joined
other EM organizations to form the Coalition on Medical Merit Badges (COMMB). COMMB maintains that participation in either ABEM MOC or AOBEM OCC programs supersedes the need for additional “merit badge” training (eg, advanced cardiac life support). COMMB works to educate other organizations and credentialers about the content of continuing certification programs in order to reduce such requirements for emergency physicians.

 Dr. Klauer is an ACEP Board member; CMO–hospital-based services, chief risk officer, and executive director–patient safety organization at TeamHealth; ACEP Now medical Editor in Chief; and clinical assistant professor, University of Tennessee and Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.