General
What is the timeline for this ongoing process?
Why should cardiology separate from internal medicine?
The field of cardiology has evolved as its own distinct specialty, separate from internal medicine. Having a separate and distinct certifying Board is best for cardiovascular professionals and their patients. The new Board will focus on continuous competence to maintain clinical excellence by meeting the unique needs of today’s cardiovascular professionals and the patients they serve.
How would this new Board operate differently?
Cardiologists are learning every day with each patient encounter and every clinical scenario. The new Board will leverage this reality towards delivering value by focusing on the daily experiences and acquired actionable clinical knowledge reflective of one’s scope of practice. Efficient self-identification of knowledge gaps will direct diplomates to a variety of self-selected relevant educational materials. Busy practicing cardiologists will be able to enhance their clinical competence in a less complex, simplified manner that is both cost and time efficient.
What about the importance of fostering competition in the market for board certification? What does this mean for the new cardiovascular Board?
The concept being put forward by the new CV Board is one of options and choice. Although the Board will set standards and requirements for all diplomates, a strong collaboration with several cardiovascular medical specialty societies will offer choice in how diplomates can satisfy those requirements. Diplomates will also find that many activities they do every day as a part of their practice could help satisfy their continuous certification requirements.
How will a new American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine impact the lives of patients?
The new Board of cardiovascular medicine is committed to putting patients first. It will do this by:
- Bringing together CV professionals who are committed to improving the quality of care for patients.
- Supporting innovation in cardiovascular medicine, so that patients have access to the latest and most effective treatments.
- Promoting lifelong education for CV clinicians, so that they stay up-to-date on the latest advances in the field.
- Encouraging CV clinicians to use data-driven solutions to improve the quality of care for patients.
What led to this decision? Why now?
The field of cardiology has evolved as its own distinct specialty, separate from internal medicine. Having a separate and distinct certifying Board is best for cardiovascular professionals and their patients. The new Board will focus on continuous competence to maintain clinical excellence by meeting the unique needs of today’s cardiovascular professionals and the patients they serve.
Who will govern the Board?
The new Board of Cardiovascular Medicine is governed by a Board of Directors comprising cardiovascular professionals spanning the field of cardiology. A total of 15 directors will guide the new Board and will be responsible for strategically developing and implementing the initial certification and supporting continuous certification programs once a decision by the American Board of Medical Specialties has been made. Learn more.
The Transition From MOC
I have been maintaining my cardiovascular certification(s) through the 10-year exam and participating in MOC. If the new Board is approved, will I need to take another certifying exam?
The continuous competency program for the new Board will not require taking any new exams or any future exams so long as diplomates complete the requirements for the program within the five-year cycle.
If you are participating in the 10-year exam pathway, continue with the 10-year pathway. While we wait for a decision from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) regarding the application for the creation of the new, independent American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine, it is critical that all diplomates continue to maintain certification through existing processes. Lapsed certifications will not transition to the new Board, placing those individuals at a disadvantage that may result in the need to pass a certification exam again.
If the new Board is approved, a process will be implemented for seamless transition to the new Board’s continuous competency program, and specifics will be determined once the new Board is established.
I am participating in the Collaborative Maintenance Pathway (CMP) for maintaining my cardiovascular certification(s). Do I continue the same process for now?
If you are participating in the Collaborative Maintenance Pathway (CMP), continue with the CMP.
While we wait for a decision from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) regarding the application for the creation of the new, independent American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine, it is critical that all diplomates continue to maintain certification through existing processes. Lapsed certifications will not transition to the new board, placing those individuals at a disadvantage that may result in the need to pass a certification exam again.
If the new Board is approved, a process will be implemented for seamless transition to the new Board’s continuous competency program. Details surrounding the specifics of this will be determined once the new Board is established.
I am participating in ABIM’s Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA) for maintaining my cardiovascular certification(s). Do I continue the same process for now?
If you are participating in the LKA, continue with the LKA.
While we wait for a decision from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) regarding the application for the creation of the new, independent American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine, it is critical that all diplomates continue to maintain certification through existing processes. Lapsed certifications will not transition to the new board, placing those individuals at a disadvantage that may result in the need to pass a certification exam again.
If the new Board is approved, a process will be implemented for seamless transition to the new Board’s continuous competency program. Details surrounding the specifics of this will be determined once the new Board is established.
I am a “grandparent” initially certified before 1990 and have not been participating in MOC, what do I do to retain my certification?
If the new board is approved, you would enter the new Board’s continuous competency pathway in a five-year cycle.
I am an interventional cardiologist who has maintained my Board certification, but I stopped doing procedures two years ago, and I no longer meet the volume criteria for Interventional certification. What do I do?
You would enter the new Board’s continuous competency pathway in a five-year cycle in general cardiology. See “What will the new Board’s continuous competency program look like?” If approved, once the new Board is active, it is certainly possible that consideration could be given to a continuous competency process for individuals who want to maintain a cardiovascular subspecialty certification without a designation to perform procedures.
What Does This Mean for Me?
How is what the new Board is proposing different from just doing CME?
The new Board requirements will be based on maintaining competency in cardiology, which goes beyond just collecting CME credits for medical knowledge. Diplomates will regularly assess their areas for improvement and then engage in learning activities that help close those learning gaps.
If the new Board is approved, will cardiologists still need to obtain their certification in internal medicine?
Eligibility to sit for a cardiology certification currently requires an internal medicine certification. There is no plan to change that requirement when the new Board becomes active.
If the new Board is approved, what differences will I see between the current Board and the new Board?
The establishment of a new Board inherently recognizes the unique nature of cardiovascular medicine as a specialty distinct from internal medicine. It provides a professional home and governance structure that is best representative of cardiovascular physicians and their practice. Built by the house of cardiology, the new Board will bring together CV professionals who are committed to innovation, quality improvement, lifelong education and data-driven solutions to maintain clinical excellence. Importantly, the new Board will move away from high-stakes exams and chart a new path focused on ensuring that cardiovascular clinicians are able to demonstrate continued clinical competency over the span of their careers.
How will this new Board address the burdens of time, effort, relevance and cost?
Cardiologists are learning every day with each patient encounter and every clinical scenario. The new Board will leverage this reality towards delivering value by focusing on the daily experiences and acquired actionable clinical knowledge reflective of one’s scope of practice. Efficient self-identification of knowledge gaps will direct diplomates to self-selected relevant educational materials. Accordingly, busy practicing cardiologists will be able to enhance their clinical competence in a less complex, simplified manner that is both cost and time efficient. Using novel learning technology that offers convenient connections to a broad set of professional resources, the new Board will reduce burdens, promote relevance and decrease individual costs.
Will the new Board offer certifications in other related areas of cardiology?
If approved and once the new Board is active, it is certainly possible that additional certifications related to cardiology could be added. Such decisions will be the purview of the certifying Board’s independent board of directors.
