Time for a change? Cardiology groups announce plan to develop a new medical board independent of the ABIM

The groups also wrote want their new board to put certification policies in place that focus less on “timed, high-stakes performance exams” and more on “learning assessments to identify gaps in current knowledge or skills.”

“It’s time to have a dedicated cardiovascular medicine board of our own. Cardiology is a distinct medical specialty and physicians want—and deserve—a clinical competency and continuous certification program that is meaningful to their practice and patients,” ACC President B. Hadley Wilson, MD, said in a prepared statement. “We know that the cardiovascular community is ready for an independent, self-governed entity, and we are proud to develop this new board with cardiologists and cardiology organizations at the helm.”

“SCAI is excited to collaborate with the other cardiovascular societies to bring forth the appropriate standards and transparency necessary for cardiovascular medicine certification requirements,” added SCAI President George Dangas, MD, PhD. “As the premier society representing interventional cardiology, we are committed to ensuring that we create a simplified process that speaks to the evolving trends in continuing education and other rising demands of physicians in our current healthcare landscape.”

This is not expected to be a quick process. Applying for a new board may take several months, the groups explained, and if ABMS approves their request, it would likely take several more months to finalize the development of new certification policies and iron out other key details.

Additional information is available here. A webinar dedicated to the efforts of these organizations has been scheduled for Nov. 14.