Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Area Links:
Maintenance of Certification | ABMS Guidelines | Timeline | Certificate of MOC
Revocation of MOC Certificate | Requirements for MOC
| Procedures | Pearson Vue Information | Performance Data | MOC Fee Schedule
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MOC Timetable - Components and Requirements
Maintenance of Certification—What You Need to Know
What is Maintenance of Certification?
Maintenance of Certification (MOC) is a program of continuous professional development initiated in 2000 by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and its 24 member boards. The ABMS statement regarding its commitment to Maintenance of Certification is:
“The Member Boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties are committed to evolve their current or plan programs of recertification into programs of maintenance of certification as currently defined by the ABMS.”
This process is designed to document that physician specialists certified by the ABMS boards are maintaining the skills and knowledge necessary to provide quality patient care in their specialty. The program gives diplomates the opportunity to demonstrate to peers, patients, and the general public a commitment to lifelong learning and improvement in their chosen field of practice.
MOC is the new "gold standard" of specialty board certification. It acknowledges that diplomates have already demonstrated a commitment to excellence by becoming certified and builds upon this experience. MOC incorporates six core physician competencies, as defined by the ABMS and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), into an evaluation process by which practicing surgeons can document their ongoing commitment to excellent patient care—the heart of the certification process.
Perhaps most importantly, MOC represents an opportunity for physicians to take a leadership position in the national movement to improve health care quality and patient safety, through performance assessments founded on objective clinical standards and measurable outcomes.
How does it work?
After January 1, 2010, all American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery (ABCRS) diplomates will be enrolled in the MOC process when they become certified or recertified. Until this occurs, the traditional recertification requirements will apply. Current rules state that diplomates with unlimited certification are not required to participate in the MOC process. MOC requirements progress in five-year cycles. See timeline At the end of each cycle, diplomates must report their MOC activities to ABCRS.
Reciprocity will be granted to those colon and rectal surgeons who are participating in and fulfilling the American Board of Surgery Maintenance of Certification process. With submission of proper documentation, only two additional requirements will be necessary:
- Completion of CARSEP at a minimum of every five years and
- Successful completion of a secure examination administeredby the ABCRS every ten years
Why do we need this now?
MOC represents an evolution from existing recertification and was developed in response to growing public concerns regarding the quality of health care. Given the current health care environment, it has become critical that a commitment to quality health care delivery is documented on a continuing basis and not just at a ten-year recertification. If physician organizations do not recognize the level of public dissatisfaction with perceived health care quality and take clear and effective steps to improve it, it is quite likely that external regulation by the federal government or other organizations, which would be far more onerous and less focused on important clinical issues, will be forthcoming. The ABMS is working to see that the federal government, third party payers, and state licensing boards recognize MOC and use it to replace current and future requirements.
What does MOC specifically entail?
The ABMS, in conjunction with the ACGME, has defined six general competencies as the foundation for physicians' training and practice characteristics during their professional life-time. These six competencies are:
2. Patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and promotion of health;
3. Interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, their families and other health professionals;
4. Professionalism as demonstrated by a commitment to professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population;
5. Practice-based learning and improvement that involves investigation and evaluation of one's own patient care, appraisal and assimilation of scientific evidence, patient care; and;
6. Systems-based practice, as demonstrated by an awareness of and responsiveness to the entire systems of health care, and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide optimal care.
ABCRS MOC Required Components
Using the framework of the general competencies, the MOC program will consist of four key components that will measure these competencies on a continual basis:
A. Documentation of full-licensure in the state in which you practice
B. Documentation of privileges for colon and rectal surgery at your hospital
C. Letter of recommendation from the chief of staff at your hospital
2. Life-long learning and self-assessment (every 5 years)
A. 150 hours of Category 1 CME credits (which can include CARSEP)
B.
Completion of CARSEP
3. Cognitive expertise (every 10 years)
A. MOC cognitive exam
4. Evaluation of performance in practice
A. Communications and interpersonal skills (The tools for evaluation of communications and interpersonal skills are still being developed. This element is not required at this time but will be required sometime in the future. It is listed here for completeness sake.)
B. Clinical practice data