title: Recertification in internal medicine: a program of continuous professional development. Task Force on Recertification.
abstract: In 2000, the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) introduced a second-generation recertification process that builds on the current knowledge-centered program by adding assessments of clinical and communication skills, clinical performance, and medical outcomes. The three-part process, called a program of continuous professional development, includes innovative self-evaluation exercises, documentation of essential knowledge, and confirmation of satisfactory qualifications and professional and community good standing. The program introduces the principles of continuous quality improvement; deemphasizes the summary nature of the traditional secure examination; and is designed to be a more continuous, less saltatory process for maintaining clinical competence. With the continuous professional development program, ABIM believes that it has taken a substantial step toward creating a recertification process that meets its goal of being valuable, doable, tolerable, and affordable" while maintaining the high standards expected of an accountable profession.
authors.affiliation: University of California at San Diego, USA.
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Wasserman
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kimball
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Duffy
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D012655:Self-Evaluation Programs