I recognize that the MOC program is not perfect. We, the ABEM Board of Directors, are continually looking for ways to improve the value, relevance, cost, and meaning to our diplomates. As one prong of this approach, we are watchful of changes made by other boards to their MOC programs. For example, we are closely watching how the American Board of Anesthesiology is changing from an every-10-year exam to weekly online quizzes. If this pilot is successful, we could see how this approach might be applied in the ABEM MOC program.

What is your vision for ABEM, especially as it impacts other organizations?

BH: There are so many challenges facing the specialty and plaguing emergency physicians. I believe that our specialty is made stronger by working in collaboration with the various membership organizations serving our specialty. We all need to find ways to work in harmony with one another and not waste time bickering over differences. When that happens, we lose, the specialty loses, and ultimately, our patients do not get the best that our specialty has to offer. ABEM can serve as a convener of the emergency medicine community, much as we have done with the EM Model Task Force. More recently, we brought together every key EM organization for an MOC summit to explore ways of improving the program and had a similar summit on the issue of board eligibility last fall.

ABEM works to promote its mission to ensure the highest standards in emergency medicine. It has been energizing to collaborate with so many organizations in emergency medicine. For example, ABEM appreciates the opportunity to work with ACEP on the development of clinical quality measures that are relevant and are aligned with the ABEM MOC program. The potential for working with ACEP to participate in the Clinical Emergency Data Registry in order to reduce the reporting requirements for Part IV Practice Improvement activities is quite exciting. If we can build the appropriate interface, reviewing and reacting to one’s clinical performance reports would automatically be reported to the ABEM MOC program. This would obviate the need for a separate attestation and aligns with ABEM’s desire to lessen the burden of MOC reporting for our diplomates.

“I also want to explore ways to increase the value of ABEM’s MOC program to our diplomates. When you examine the cost and time commitment emergency physicians spend in MOC, it’s fairly modest.”

What initially drew you to the specialty of emergency medicine and ABEM, in particular?