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Family medicine board makes changes in certification rules

A 10-year certificate for family physicians will be offered in 2007.

By Damon Adams, amednews staff. March 6, 2006.

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Like a college student putting off writing a term paper, Patrick Dowling, MD, MPH, avoided getting started on his maintenance-of-certification program. He waited until the week between Christmas and New Year's, then tackled questions of a self-assessment module on diabetes.

"I came away grumbling, but I did it. I later thought it was very helpful and beneficial from a clinical perspective," said Dr. Dowling, professor and chair of the family medicine department at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Dr. Dowling expects the process to be a little less cumbersome now that the American Board of Family Medicine is making changes.

In late January, the ABFM announced new enhancements to its maintenance-of-certification program, including the option of extending the length of a board certificate from seven to 10 years. Dr. Dowling intends to pursue the 10-year option.

During the seven-year program, diplomates complete six self-assessment modules (SAMs) and one performance-practice module (or complete a METRIC module created by the American Academy of Family Physicians) before taking the recertification exam in the sixth or seventh year. Under the 10-year plan, diplomates would complete two SAMs and one performance-in-practice or one METRIC module in three separate three-year stages. The recertification exam would be in the 10th year.

The 10-year certificate would require nine total modules -- two more than the seven-year program -- but mean longer spells between recertification exams. The 10-year certificate will be offered starting January 2007. The cost has not been determined but is expected to be a lower annual cost than the seven-year certificate.