Phoenix Newsletter - October 2025 President’s Message: Enduring Commitments in a Time of Change Read President’s Message: Enduring Commitments in a Time of Change
Home Research Research Library Continuing Board Certification: Seeing Our Way Forward Continuing Board Certification: Seeing Our Way Forward 2020 Author(s) McMahon, Graham T, and Newton, Warren P Topic(s) Family Medicine Certification, Role of Primary Care, and Achieving Health System Goals Keyword(s) Certificates Of Added Qualifications, Performance Improvement, and Quality Of Care Volume Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Source Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine BACKGROUND: Traditionally the role of certifying boards has been to hold physicians accountable for demonstrating standards of competence. In recent years, the authority of continuing board certification has been challenged, due to multiple factors that have shifted the dynamics. The breadth and depth of new information, combined with the pressures of system barriers and administrative burdens, can make it challenging for clinicians stay current and maintain their own competency. Absent feedback about their performance, physicians presume they’re practicing effectively. The resulting gap between confidence and competence can also lead physicians to make errors of which they may be unaware. In this environment, assessment and accountability are more important than ever. FOUR KEY AREAS: The authors present four key areas to address to move forward with a board certification system that is effective, relevant, and respected. First, boards should set and communicate the specific expectations of specialists. Second, boards should use technology to create practice-relevant assessments. Third, they should collaborate with educators, while maintaining their distinct role as assessors. Fourth, boards need to establish and meet standards for professionalism and ethics that reflect their position as regulatory bodies. CONCLUSION: Boards have a critical role in professional self-regulation. They should not compromise on their primary responsibility to set and evolve standards for competence and to conduct rigorous assessments of physicians. The methods boards use for assessments should evolve to meet the changing needs of physicians. Collaboration between educators and assessors provides more educational choice, relieves burdens, and supports physicians’ commitment to lifelong learning. By working together with physicians, educators and assessors advance their shared goal of supporting physicians to work at the top of their capability and ultimately, optimize patient care. ABFM Research Read all 2005 Listening to the diplomates: physicians’ feedback on Self-Assessment Modules Go to Listening to the diplomates: physicians’ feedback on Self-Assessment Modules 2012 Knowledge Assessment Responses in the ABFM Self-Assessment Modules (SAMs) Go to Knowledge Assessment Responses in the ABFM Self-Assessment Modules (SAMs) 2025 Rural and urban differences in family physician burnout before and during the COVID-19 pandemic Go to Rural and urban differences in family physician burnout before and during the COVID-19 pandemic 2025 Validating 8 Area-Based Measures of Social Risk for Predicting Health and Mortality Go to Validating 8 Area-Based Measures of Social Risk for Predicting Health and Mortality
Author(s) McMahon, Graham T, and Newton, Warren P Topic(s) Family Medicine Certification, Role of Primary Care, and Achieving Health System Goals Keyword(s) Certificates Of Added Qualifications, Performance Improvement, and Quality Of Care Volume Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Source Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
ABFM Research Read all 2005 Listening to the diplomates: physicians’ feedback on Self-Assessment Modules Go to Listening to the diplomates: physicians’ feedback on Self-Assessment Modules 2012 Knowledge Assessment Responses in the ABFM Self-Assessment Modules (SAMs) Go to Knowledge Assessment Responses in the ABFM Self-Assessment Modules (SAMs) 2025 Rural and urban differences in family physician burnout before and during the COVID-19 pandemic Go to Rural and urban differences in family physician burnout before and during the COVID-19 pandemic 2025 Validating 8 Area-Based Measures of Social Risk for Predicting Health and Mortality Go to Validating 8 Area-Based Measures of Social Risk for Predicting Health and Mortality
2005 Listening to the diplomates: physicians’ feedback on Self-Assessment Modules Go to Listening to the diplomates: physicians’ feedback on Self-Assessment Modules
2012 Knowledge Assessment Responses in the ABFM Self-Assessment Modules (SAMs) Go to Knowledge Assessment Responses in the ABFM Self-Assessment Modules (SAMs)
2025 Rural and urban differences in family physician burnout before and during the COVID-19 pandemic Go to Rural and urban differences in family physician burnout before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
2025 Validating 8 Area-Based Measures of Social Risk for Predicting Health and Mortality Go to Validating 8 Area-Based Measures of Social Risk for Predicting Health and Mortality