The American College of Cardiology (ACC), Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) have announced a partnership to develop new modules to help subspecialty cardiologists—interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, and heart failure specialists—to potentially meet collaborative maintenance pathway requirements equivalent to satisfying the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)’s current 10-year merit of certification (MOC) examination.
Through this partnership (which will move forward upon reaching agreement with the ABIM), a press release reports, the ACC will enhance its existing ACC Self-Assessment Program (ACCSAP) product line with CathSAP, EPSAP and Heart Failure SAP products to help fulfil the MOC needs of interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists and heart failure specialists. An analogous product for ABIM diplomates in Adult Congenital Heart Disease will be developed by 2021.
ACC president Mary Norine Walsh, comments: “It is a shared goal of ACC, HFSA, HRS and SCAI to help our collective members ensure their patients are receiving the highest quality, evidence-based care. In offering additional pathways for cardiologists who wish to maintain their professional certification, we can more effectively and efficiently help busy clinicians keep up with current knowledge in their specific areas of practice.”
“SCAI leadership is eager to partner with ACC, to share in the work of building out best-in-class re-certification materials. By leveraging the breadth and depth of talent within both organisations, and maintaining close communication with ABIM, we can facilitate a quicker, easier, and more relevant MOC experience for our members,” says SCAI president Kirk N. Garratt.
Development is in the early stages, but the new products may launch as early as 2019. During development the current ACCSAP 9 remains in place to help clinicians maintain professional competence.
