Monday, November 15, 2010

ABEM Certification

ABEM certifies qualifying physicians who specialize in emergency medicine. ABEM is member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). ABMS certification is looked for and earned by physicians on a voluntary basis. ABEM and other ABMS member boards certify only those physicians who meet high educational, professional standing, as well as examination standards. ABEM and other ABMS member boards are not membership associations.
Recently, the American Board of Medical Specialties approved Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as ABEM’s sixth subspecialty. Work will soon start on developing an initial examination and an EMS maintenance of certification program. ABEM has also achieved an agreement with the American Board of Internal Medicine to become a co-sponsor in IM Critical Care Medicine. Hence, emergency medicine residents will have access to training in two-year CCM Internal Medicine-sponsored fellowship programs upon completion of their EM residencies. If the fellowship is completed successfully, they will be eligible for certification in Internal Medicine Critical Care Medicine.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Understanding ABEM and EMCC for Current and Former Diplomates

Current Diplomates
To maintain certification beyond their current certificate’s expiration date, diplomates must participate in each component of EMCC as follows:
• Continuously maintain medical licensure in compliance with the ABEM Policy on Medical Licensure
• Complete annual Lifelong Learning Self Assessment – LLSA tests based on designated readings.
• Take and pass the continuous certification cognitive expertise (ConCert) examination in or before the year in which their certificates expire. Diplomates must complete a specific number of LLSA tests in order to register for a ConCert examination.
• For clinically active diplomates, meet the requirements of the Assessment of Practice Performance component.
All clinically inactive diplomates who wish to maintain their certification will be required to complete ABEM requirements for Professional Standing, Lifelong Learning and Self Assessment, and Assessment of Cognitive Expertise – ConCert at the same level as required for clinically active diplomates.

The Policy on Required EMCC Activity describes these requirements in greater detail, together with the options available to diplomates who do not complete the LLSA requirements to take the ConCert examination. The EMCC Policies and Procedures book describes how diplomates can participate in the LLSA EMCC program.

Diplomates who wish to view their specific requirements may sign in to EMCC Online and select “Check EMCC Status” from the quick links on their EMCC Personal Page.

Former Diplomates
ABEM provides options for former diplomates to regain certification. Former diplomates who meet specific requirements may attempt to regain certification through the EMCC program.

Former diplomates who do not meet the requirements for regaining certification through the EMCC program may attempt to regain certification by taking the intial certification examinations.

All former diplomates attempting to regain certification must maintain medical licensure in compliance with ABEM's Policy on Medical Licensure.

Former diplomates who complete all their required LLSA tests before their certificates expired have three years from their certification expiration date to regain certification through the EMCC program. Test or examination activity is required in each of the three years. If they do not complete the required annual activity, the only way they can regain certification is by passing the qualifying and oral certification examinations.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Get a head start on your LLSA Exam

Every year Emergency Doctors across the U.S. need to take the LLSA exams to maintain their certification with ABEM, in order to ensure emergency physicians are up to date in their field through continuous learning. Now you have a couple ways to address this annual process – prepare ahead OR cram at the last minute. At the time of publication of this article there is exactly 332 days left to take the LLSA 2008 exam, as per the LLSAPrep website .

ABEM
provides the LLSA reading lists e.g. 2010 articles, 2011 articles etc. from which you can review. Online Medical Education provider , LLSAPrep has been providing an LLSA preparatory course for several years that aids both the ‘crammers’ and the doctors who study ahead of time. The LLSA course comprises of 2 sections (1) a full-length detailed LLSA review course and (2) LLSA practice exams . This combination has been a proven method of achieving success year after year. The proof is in the number of EM who have purchased the 10 Year LLSA Course which prepares them over the course of ten years.