Cardiology Societies Plan to Expand Maintenance of Certification Offerings

October 17, 2017—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 potentially meet collaborative maintenance pathway requirements equivalent to satisfying the current 10-year Maintenance of Certification (MOC) examination of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM).

Through this partnership, which will move forward upon reaching an agreement with the ABIM, the ACC will enhance its existing ACC Self-Assessment Program (ACCSAP) product line with CathSAP, EPSAP, and Heart Failure SAP products to help fulfill the MOC needs of interventionalists, electrophysiologists, and heart failure specialists. An analogous product for ABIM diplomates in adult congenital heart disease will be developed by 2021.

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, advised the societies.

In the announcement, ACC President Mary Norine Walsh, MD, commented, “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 President Kirk N. Garratt, MD, added, “SCAI leadership is eager to partner with ACC, to share in the work of building out best-in-class recertification materials. By leveraging the breadth and depth of talent within both organizations, and maintaining close communication with ABIM, we can facilitate a quicker, easier, and more relevant MOC experience for our members.”