Kay Vydareny, M.D.April 2011

Outline

Exam of today Qualifying (aka written/physics) Certifying (aka oral)

Exam of (near) future Core Certifying

Qualifying exams: Physics and Clinical

Registering for exam – will be notified via website when able to register at Pearson Vue

Erroneous reporting of results – Affected those who checked physics results

before receiving email from ABR Have changed processes and are certain will

not happen again

Electronic payment for initial certification Top priority for ABR Process will be complete by end of 2011

Certifying exam: oral

Core pilot exam - 2011 6 modules will be piloted in May (MSK ,

Breast, Peds, Cardiac, IR, Neuro,) Candidate can choose to take before or after

exam Passing score can raise conditioned score

but will not allow a failing candidate to pass Will allow evaluation of time, software

interface, questions, etc Will not represent actual modules to be given

during core exam

Will be a second pilot May 2012 to include all modules

Appointments for oral and for core pilot were sent at end of last week

Certifying exam - oral

Results To be posted electronically Friday May 27 Letters will be mailed in late June Candidates must make sure we have up-to-

date contact information.

EOF Core exam, purpose

To validate that a diagnostic radiology candidate has acquired knowledge, skill, and understanding of the entire field of diagnostic radiology, including physics

EOF, Core exam - Timing

Residents expected to take at 36 months Exception – research residents with >9

months research in first 3 years can delay Would be few other exceptions granted

First exam September 30-October 4, 2013 Subsequent exams – third week of June

EOF, Core exam, structure

Image-rich Will assess knowledge and

comprehension (40%) and application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation (60%)

Level of expertise expected for the exam is basic to intermediate

EOF – Core exam, structure

18 categories, each must be passed Organ system: MSK, Cardiac, Thoracic,

Gastrointestinal, Urinary, Repro/Endo, Neuro, Pediatric, Breast, Vascular

Modality: Ultrasound, Interventional, Nuclear Radiology/Molecular Imaging, CT, MRI, Rad/Fluoro

Fundamental concepts: Patient safety, physics

Items presented in random order

RISE (RadioIsotope Safety Exam) Will be embedded in Core exam Rationale: radioisotope safety is important

for all DR not just for AU’s 50-60 scorable units

25-30 already contained in NM, Safety, Physics

25-30 additional radioisotope safety items

If fail RISE, can re-take if desire AU-E status; don’t need to retake if don’t qualify/want AU-E

Must pass this virtual exam + NRC requirements before end of residency to have AU-E on certificate

Must pass Core exam before RISE counts towards AU-E status

Core exam, general

Study guides posted on ABR website (www.theabr.org) January 2011

Exam will take two half days Given in central locations – Chicago,

Tucson – 2x year

   BreastBreast CardiacCardiac GIGI MSKMSK NeuroNeuro PedsPeds ThoraxThoraxRepro / Repro / EndoEndo UrinaryUrinary VascularVascular Q#Q#

CTCT 60

IRIR 60

MRMR 60

NM/NM/MolecularMolecular 60

Rad/FluoroRad/Fluoro 60

USUS 60

PhysicsPhysics 90

SafetySafety 60

Q#Q# 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60

minimum 60 questions per row/column

EOF, Core exam, Physics

Practical, image based More questions than other categories Physicist included on each of the

item-writing committees

EOF, Core exam - Scoring

Criterion-referenced exam Must pass each row/column Condition exam = fail of 1-5 categories

(including physics) RISE will not count as one of these categories,

but will be scored separately

EOF, Core exam – transition

If fail last attempt at clinical exam- go to core

If fail last attempt at oral – go to core

EOF, Certifying exam, Purpose

To validate that the candidate has acquired and is able to apply the requisite knowledge, skill, and understanding that: every practicing physician should possess. (20%) (

NIS) every practicing radiologist should possess. (20%)

(Essentials) this particular practicing radiologist should

possess to begin independent practice in chosen clinical practice area(s). (60%) (CPA’s)

 

EOF, Certifying exam, Timing

To be taken 15 months after finishing residency

Will be given 2x/year

EOF, Certifying exam - Structure

Image-rich exam Emulate practice Focus assessment on application,

analysis, synthesis, and evaluation Level of expertise expected for the exam

is intermediate to advanced Will include normals, normal variants,

artifacts

Each module at least 60 scorable units Exam will be ~ 5 hours long Administered 2 X / year Is both the first MOC exam and the

certifying exam for the residency

EOF, Certifying exam, NIS

What every physician should know Domain includes:, ethics, governmental

regulations, systems-based practice, etc.

EOF, Certifying exam, Essentials

What every radiologist should know Includes but not limited to Emergency

Radiology, common on-call dx

EOF. Certifying exam, CPA

Candidate chooses 3 modules If more than 1 in an area, will contain more

advanced content

CPA’s: Breast, Cardiac ,GI ,MSK, Neuro, Pediatric, Thoracic, Reproductive/Endocrine, Urinary, Vascular-Interventional, Nuclear Medicine, Ultrasound, and General Radiology. Each will include relevant Peds, Physics

EOF, Certifying exam, Scoring

Criterion referenced Will be pass/fail only Must pass NIS, Essentials and CPA’s (as

a group) If fail, must keep CPA’s the same for next

administration of the exam

EOF, Certifying, Transition from present If condition oral on last attempt – take one

module in each conditioned section + NIS+Essentials If fail, take entire Certifying exam (5 modules)

How can the APDR help?

Help establish a culture shift from “how many questions can I remember?” to “I am honor bound not to share reminiscences” Much time and effort to write new exams Want certificate to be worth something Avoid analysis/management items becoming recall

only Public would expect no less Should be part of professionalism competency

How can APDR help? (2)

More complete evaluation of resident’s abilities since can’t evaluate communication, etc on CBE Milestones may help with this