Using the Evidence to Make the Case for ABMS Board Certification and Maintenance of Certification

摘要

During the past 10 years, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), its 24 member boards, and the ABMS Research and Education Foundation have been engaged in research efforts related to the evidence base for board certification and the ABMS Program for Maintenance of Certification (MOC). In 2011, ABMS staff and physician volunteers started actively compiling research supporting board certification and MOC under the direction of the senior vice president of academic affairs,1 in part, to respond to criticisms that the program lacks an evidence base.2 The results have been used to develop resources to counterbalance statements in the scholarly literature and elsewhere questioning the value of board certification and MOC. Additionally, they have been disseminated to the profession and the public to provide a more complete and balanced perspective about the evidence.