Several of the United State’s cardiovascular organizations that represent physicians are pushing for the creation of a new Board for cardiovascular medicine. The proposed new board would be separate and independent of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), which currently has a cardiology certification.
Included in those lobbying for the new Board are the American College of Cardiology (ACC), Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI). Other cardiovascular organizations such as the American Heart Association (AHA) support the call, but formal support is pending.
As the consortium of societies notes, cardiology “has evolved into a distinct medical specialty, requiring extensive knowledge and training specific to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease that is separate from the field of internal medicine.”
The groups will submit an application to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), requesting an independent medical board for cardiovascular medicine to pursue a new competency-based approach to continuous certification. ABMS is currently the only authority that is widely recognized by the public, regulators, and payers for initial and ongoing certification in the United States.
ABMS only permits one medical specialty board per specialty, which means that if the new Board is approved, it would replace the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) approach with a pathway to continuous certification and competency, providing diplomates with convenience, support, choice, and credit for the learning that they do to keep their knowledge and skills sharp. All cardiologists that wish to secure and maintain a Board certification in general cardiology, interventional cardiology, clinical cardiac electrophysiology, advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology, and adult congenital heart disease would need to adhere to the requirements of the new CV Board.
Additionally, the continuous certification competency-based program for the new Board will not require taking any new exams or any future exams, as long as diplomates complete the requirements for the program within the five-year cycle. For any diplomates participating in the 10-year exam pathway, they will be able to continue with the 10-year pathway. If the new Board is approved, a process will be implemented for seamless transition to the new Board’s continuous competency program. No existing credit or status will be lost.
The new Board requirements would de-emphasize timed, high stakes performance exams in the continuous certification process and instead focus on learning assessments to identify gaps in current knowledge or skills. It would also include recommendations for continuing medical education (CME) learning resources and activities to close recognized gaps. The Board would be developed – and overseen – by physicians in the field of cardiovascular medicine and transparency would play an important role.
The approval process is expected to take several months. If approved, it will then likely take several more months before initial certification and continuous certification and competency programs would begin.
An information session on the new Board is scheduled to take place on November 14, 2023, at 7:00 pm ET. For more information and to register, click here.
Statements of Support from the Consortium Members
“It’s time to have a dedicated cardiovascular medicine Board of our own; cardiology is a distinct medical specialty and physicians want—and deserve—a clinical competency and continuous certification program that is meaningful to their practice and patients,” said ACC President B. Hadley Wilson, MD, FACC. “We know that the cardiovascular community is ready for an independent, self-governed entity, and we are proud to develop this new Board with cardiologists and cardiology organizations at the helm.”
“The priority of this proposed new Board is to ensure the requirements truly benefit the cardiology community and the patients we serve,” said HFSA President John Teerlink, MD, FHFSA. “The new Board’s focus on competence in the pursuit of continuous certification is a needed paradigm shift for the field, and we look forward to future collaborations with the consortium as we submit the application.”
“The field of cardiology, and the subspecialty of cardiac electrophysiology, have evolved dramatically over the last several decades,” said HRS President Jodie L. Hurwitz, MD, FHRS. “The time is now to create a Board of cardiovascular medicine that can offer our U.S. physician members an innovative approach to maintaining specialized certification that measures the true clinical competence of our diplomates and physicians with relevant educational support.”
“SCAI is excited to collaborate with the other cardiovascular societies to bring forth the appropriate standards and transparency necessary for cardiovascular medicine certification requirements,” said SCAI President George Dangas, MD, PhD, MSCAI. “As the premier society representing interventional cardiology, we are committed to ensuring that we create a simplified process that speaks to the evolving trends in continuing education and other rising demands of physicians in our current health care landscape.”