The American Board of Anesthesiology should model its recertification process more closely on that of the American Board of Internal Medicine, according to a physician editorial in Anesthesiology News.
The Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology and its associated costs total more than $6,000 for anesthesiologists, while the Maintenance of Certification totals between $1,675 and $1,840, depending on subspecialty, said anesthesiologist Tania Haddad, MD, of Valley Anesthesiology Consultants in Phoenix, Ariz. Of the fees involved in the MOCA, simulation training costs roughly $2,000 per physician, and little if any evidence has demonstrated improvement in clinical outcomes from the process, said Dr. Haddad.
"The ABA argues that it is attempting to create an exam that is not onerous for the physician. But is the MOCA a better recertification examination process than the MOC because it has more requirements and costs three times as much?" said Dr. Haddad. "The MOC has been in existence since 1990. Does the MOC fail to satisfactorily maintain its physicians' competence because it is more convenient and manageable than the MOCA?"
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The Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology and its associated costs total more than $6,000 for anesthesiologists, while the Maintenance of Certification totals between $1,675 and $1,840, depending on subspecialty, said anesthesiologist Tania Haddad, MD, of Valley Anesthesiology Consultants in Phoenix, Ariz. Of the fees involved in the MOCA, simulation training costs roughly $2,000 per physician, and little if any evidence has demonstrated improvement in clinical outcomes from the process, said Dr. Haddad.
"The ABA argues that it is attempting to create an exam that is not onerous for the physician. But is the MOCA a better recertification examination process than the MOC because it has more requirements and costs three times as much?" said Dr. Haddad. "The MOC has been in existence since 1990. Does the MOC fail to satisfactorily maintain its physicians' competence because it is more convenient and manageable than the MOCA?"
Related Articles on Anesthesiology:
How Happy Are Anesthesiologists? 20 Statistics
Propofol Drug Shortage: The Economic Problems of a Generic Injectable
20 New Statistics on Anesthesiologist Compensation