It ’s time to stop mandating board exams for family physicians

I am a family physician who has been in practice since 2007. My practice is broad in scope; immediately out of residency I worked in a community health center where I practiced obstetrics, newborn care, and inpatient medicine and pediatrics, along with my outpatient obligations. Since 2011 I have been a locum tenens physician working in rural Colorado in emergency departments, clinics, and hospitals. I recently received your American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) pamphlet outlining the upcoming changes to the family medicine boards for those of us who must re-certify in April 2017 and beyond. I have an even better suggestion that would improve the maintenance of certification (MOC) process and likely increase the current number of practicing family physicians. It’s time the ABFM stop mandating board exams as a requirement for family physicians. Last summer the American Medical Association passed a resolution to stop board recertification for physicians as there is no evidence that these exams improve patient outcomes or are productive for physicians’ daily practice. The American Board of Internal Medicine will no longer require its members to complete closed-book board exams in 2018. Anesthesiologists do not need to take board exams, but rather, complete annual CME to fulfill their active status with their board. The American Board of Pediatrics may also discontinue board recertification as a practice requirement. It’s time for the ABFM to join this growing group of o...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Physician Primary care Source Type: blogs