Abstract
The SIS program consists of 52 oral scientific presentations, 55 poster presentations, and several symposia. Twenty-two hours of Category I Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit will be available for attendees, all of which will qualify for self-assessment credits for those who attend the entire meeting and complete successfully the self-assessment examination (see below). The SIS is the only national society to make its entire meeting eligible for self-assessment credit, which is an outstanding opportunity to obtain all of the self-assessment credit needed to meet requirements for The American Board of Surgery (ABS) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program. Does this apply to me, the reader may ask? If you are a board-eligible or -certified surgeon by the ABS, the answer is yes. So, what does it all mean?
The ABS-MOC Program is an initiative of the American Board of Surgery. Every surgeon newly certified or recertified enters the ABS-MOC program, where activity in four domains must be documented every three years and a secure recertification exam must be taken every 10 years [1] (now, after seven years, for successful first-time examinees taking their first recertification examination). The four domains are Professional Standing (active, unrestricted medical license; full hospital privileges, acceptable professional references); MOC (90 h of CME, of which 60 h of self-assessment for each three-year cycle); Cognitive Expertise (the secure recertification examination); and Evaluation of Performance in Practice (participation in outcome registries and quality improvement programs).
Here is how the American Board of Surgery describes MOC Part 2 [2]:
Part 2 requires the completion of 90 h of Category I CME over a three-year MOC cycle. Category I CME activities are formal educational experiences accredited by the American Medical Association (AMA) or the Accreditation council on Graduate Medical Education (ACCME). These may include seminars, conferences, grand rounds, webinars, podcasts, skills courses and scientific meetings. All CME must be relevant to one's practice, or if clinically inactive, to the broad discipline of surgery. Courses completed to meet state licensing requirements and on topics such as risk management, ethics, and patient safety are acceptable. Diplomates who hold multiple ABS certificates do not have to repeat Part 2 for each certificate.
As of July 2012, at least 60 (previously 30) of the 90 Category I CME hours completed over a three-year MOC cycle must include a self-assessment activity, that is, a written or electronic question-and-answer exercise that assesses your understanding of the material presented in the CME program. The 60 hours (average, 20 h/yr) will be prorated for diplomates who were mid-cycle at the time the requirement was increased; 40 total hours of self-assessment for those who will complete their cycle on June 30, 2013, and 50 total hours of self-assessment for those diplomates who will complete their current cycle as of June 30, 2014.
In addition, as of July 2012, diplomates must achieve a score of ≥75% correct on the self-assessment activity for the CME to count as self-assessment for MOC. There is no required minimum number of questions and repeated attempts are allowed. Individual CME programs may require a higher score at their discretion; make sure your CME program requires at least a 75% score. Many live CME events, such as grand rounds and conferences, require a post-test before credit is awarded. Category I CME from journals, textbooks, and audio, video or web-based programs also usually contains self-assessment.
There is no ABS approval process for self-assessment activities. Hospitals, societies and other organizations may develop their own programs per the ABS criteria. To avoid confusion, societies and other organizations should not use terms such as “MOC credits” or “MOC activity.” They may only state that an activity provides Category I CME and self-assessment credits toward Part 2 of the ABS MOC Program.
Here is how the SIS’ program works (begun in 2012 with the awarding of 22 h of Category I CME credit and self-assessment credits toward Part 2 of the ABS MOC Program). Each abstract submitter submitted one question relative to their presentation as part of the abstract submission process. From them, a 50-item examination has been constructed. Self-assessment credit is all-or-nothing; attending one day of the meeting and claiming seven credits will not qualify those seven credits for self-assessment. The examination is made available at the meeting; attendees found it convenient to have it at hand during sessions, complete it at the meeting, and turn it in for grading prior to leaving for home. A correct score of at least 75% overall must be achieved, not for each individual session.
Come to Vegas! You need not be reminded that (almost everything that) Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas! (but I just did, anyway). Collect your 22 MOC credits (Oops! Can't say that, but I just did, anyway!). That you can take away, along with all of the new data and wonderful friendships and collaborations that are part of belonging to SIS and attending the annual meeting.