The American Board of Family Medicine is expanding the Maintenance of Certification Program for Family Physicians, or MC-FP, effective January 2007.
"Since beginning MC-FP in 2004, we have spent considerable time listening to the suggestions of diplomates who have participated in this process," ABFM President and CEO James Puffer, M.D., said in Jan. 19 letters to groups of diplomates. He listed diplomates' requests:
ABFM Offers 'Array of Options' for Maintaining Certification
By Jane Stoever
1/25/2006
- extend certificates to 10 years, like most other specialties, because diplomates are being assessed annually now rather than every seven years;
- simplify the MC-FP process;
- let diplomates complete the requirements on their schedules, not ABFM's schedule;
- give diplomates more options; and
- do away with late fees.
"We have incorporated all of these suggestions into the enhanced program," wrote Puffer. "MC-FP will now offer greater flexibility to diplomates who are participating in the program, and it will provide an array of options for all of our diplomates, whether they are in a traditional practice or not."
Diplomates will be able to choose a seven-year MC-FP cycle or a 10-year cycle and will take the cognitive exam at the end of either cycle.
For those diplomates choosing the 10-year option, the cycle is separated into three three-year stages. Diplomates will complete two self-assessment modules, or SAMs, and one performance-in-practice module, or PPM, in each three-year stage and take the cognitive exam in the ninth or 10th year. However, those who began MC-FP in 2004 or 2005 may take three SAMs during their first three-year stage instead of two SAMs and one PPM. And all diplomates may substitute a module from AAFP's METRIC program (Measuring, Evaluating and Translating Research Into Care) for one PPM in a seven-year or 10-year cycle.
Other alternatives to the PPM will include methods-in-medicine modules -- available beginning in 2007 -- intended to introduce concepts helpful in the day-to-day practice of medicine, and a patient safety module, to be developed by 2008. These modules, which will be available to all diplomates, are being designed especially for diplomates who are not in practice or who do not see patients in continuity.
Diplomates may complete the requirements within a three-year stage at any time within the three years. Those who choose the 10-year cycle but fail to complete the three-year requirements within a three-year stage will automatically revert to a seven-year cycle.
"Members have noticed a change in the way the board is approaching different medical problems (in the modules), and they appreciate the board's responsiveness (to their suggestions)," said AAFP Board Chair Mary Frank, M.D., of Mill Valley, Calif., commenting on increased acceptance of the program since it began in 2004. "I notice more of a calmness, more understanding of where we're going with the MC-FP as more members enter the process. Also, the continuing dialogue between AAFP and ABFM is building collegiality based on our mutual goal of excellent patient care."
The current process for MC-FP calls for diplomates to complete six SAMs and one PPM or METRIC program in a seven-year cycle; the expanded MC-FP process that will be effective next January increases the number of PPMs per cycle. "This new approach helps support more participation in quality improvement," said Frank. "That mirrors the Academy's approach with METRIC, which is part of the new CME. Our dream, our goal, is that members will use METRIC as an ongoing process day to day -- finish one cycle, move into another -- so they're in a process of continuous measurement and quality improvement. If the MC-FP outcome is to be improved care of patients, then doing quality improvement modules is integral to that."
The elements of MC-FP assess four physician characteristics: professionalism, self-assessment and lifelong learning, cognitive expertise, and performance in practice. "MC-FP stresses the importance of ongoing participation in activities which evaluate each of these (characteristics) between recertification examinations -- a requirement that ABFM believes encourages clinical excellence and benefits both physicians and their patients," said an attachment to Puffer's letters to diplomates.
The attachment also said physicians who were certified or recertified in 2003 or 2004 have only a limited amount of time to complete stage one and should enroll in MC-FP and begin completing their requirements immediately. In other words, if you haven't yet enrolled, it's not too late.
For more information, call the ABFM help line at (877) 223-7437.
Diplomates will be able to choose a seven-year MC-FP cycle or a 10-year cycle and will take the cognitive exam at the end of either cycle.
For those diplomates choosing the 10-year option, the cycle is separated into three three-year stages. Diplomates will complete two self-assessment modules, or SAMs, and one performance-in-practice module, or PPM, in each three-year stage and take the cognitive exam in the ninth or 10th year. However, those who began MC-FP in 2004 or 2005 may take three SAMs during their first three-year stage instead of two SAMs and one PPM. And all diplomates may substitute a module from AAFP's METRIC program (Measuring, Evaluating and Translating Research Into Care) for one PPM in a seven-year or 10-year cycle.
Other alternatives to the PPM will include methods-in-medicine modules -- available beginning in 2007 -- intended to introduce concepts helpful in the day-to-day practice of medicine, and a patient safety module, to be developed by 2008. These modules, which will be available to all diplomates, are being designed especially for diplomates who are not in practice or who do not see patients in continuity.
Diplomates may complete the requirements within a three-year stage at any time within the three years. Those who choose the 10-year cycle but fail to complete the three-year requirements within a three-year stage will automatically revert to a seven-year cycle.
"Members have noticed a change in the way the board is approaching different medical problems (in the modules), and they appreciate the board's responsiveness (to their suggestions)," said AAFP Board Chair Mary Frank, M.D., of Mill Valley, Calif., commenting on increased acceptance of the program since it began in 2004. "I notice more of a calmness, more understanding of where we're going with the MC-FP as more members enter the process. Also, the continuing dialogue between AAFP and ABFM is building collegiality based on our mutual goal of excellent patient care."
The current process for MC-FP calls for diplomates to complete six SAMs and one PPM or METRIC program in a seven-year cycle; the expanded MC-FP process that will be effective next January increases the number of PPMs per cycle. "This new approach helps support more participation in quality improvement," said Frank. "That mirrors the Academy's approach with METRIC, which is part of the new CME. Our dream, our goal, is that members will use METRIC as an ongoing process day to day -- finish one cycle, move into another -- so they're in a process of continuous measurement and quality improvement. If the MC-FP outcome is to be improved care of patients, then doing quality improvement modules is integral to that."
The elements of MC-FP assess four physician characteristics: professionalism, self-assessment and lifelong learning, cognitive expertise, and performance in practice. "MC-FP stresses the importance of ongoing participation in activities which evaluate each of these (characteristics) between recertification examinations -- a requirement that ABFM believes encourages clinical excellence and benefits both physicians and their patients," said an attachment to Puffer's letters to diplomates.
The attachment also said physicians who were certified or recertified in 2003 or 2004 have only a limited amount of time to complete stage one and should enroll in MC-FP and begin completing their requirements immediately. In other words, if you haven't yet enrolled, it's not too late.
For more information, call the ABFM help line at (877) 223-7437.
