The American Board of Internal Medicine: Evolving Professional Self-regulation
Authors: Richard J. Baron, David Johnson
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2014)

Ideas and Opinions5 August 2014The American Board of Internal Medicine: Evolving Professional Self-regulationRichard J. Baron, MD and David Johnson, MDRichard J. Baron, MDFrom the American Board of Internal Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.Search for more papers by this author and David Johnson, MDFrom the American Board of Internal Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M13-2478 Annals Author Insight Video - Richard J. Baron, MD In this video, Richard J. Baron, MD, offers additional insight into his Ideas and Opinions piece, "The American Board of Internal Medicine: Evolving Professional Self-Regulation." SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail The mission of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) is “To enhance the quality of health care by certifying internists and subspecialists who demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for excellent patient care.” As the largest of the American Board of Medical Specialties' 24 certifying boards, the ABIM certifies approximately 1 of every 4 physicians in the United States (1). The board was created in 1936 by a joint action of the American College of Physicians and the American Medical Association; their goal was to distinguish internists who met peer-established standards from those who could not or chose ...References1. Table 3B: ABMS member boards general certificates issued 2002-2011. In: 2012 ABMS Certificate Statistics. Chicago: American Board Med Specialties; 2012:22. Accessed at www.abms.org/News_and_Events/Media_Newsroom/pdf/ABMS%202012_CertStats_Table3B.pdf on 3 October 2013. Google Scholar2. Iglehart JK, Baron RB. Ensuring physicians' competence—is maintenance of certification the answer? N Engl J Med. 2012;367:2543-9. [PMID: 23268670] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Levinson W, King TE, Goldman L, Goroll AH, Kessler B. Clinical decisions. American Board of Internal Medicine maintenance of certification program. N Engl J Med. 2010;362:948-52. [PMID: 20220192] MedlineGoogle Scholar4. Drazen JM, Weinstein DF. Considering recertification [Editorial]. N Engl J Med. 2010;362:946-7. [PMID: 20220191] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Frager MS. Debating maintenance of certification [Letter]. ACP Internist. 2013;(Sep). Accessed at www.acpinternist.org/archives/2013/09/letters.htm on 3 October 2013. Google Scholar6. Kempen PM. Maintenance of Certification—important and to whom? J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2013;3:. [PMID: 23882395] MedlineGoogle Scholar7. Emanuel EJ, Pearson SD. Physician autonomy and health care reform. JAMA. 2012;307:367-8. [PMID: 22274681] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Mechanic D. Physician discontent: challenges and opportunities. JAMA. 2003;290:941-6. [PMID: 12928472] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Reinertsen JL. Zen and the art of physician autonomy maintenance. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:992-5. [PMID: 12809456] LinkGoogle Scholar10. Lipner RS, Hess BJ, Phillips RL. Specialty board certification in the United States: issues and evidence. J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2013;33 Suppl 1 S20-35. [PMID: 24347150] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Richard J. Baron, MD; David Johnson, MDAffiliations: From the American Board of Internal Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M13-2478.Corresponding Author: Richard J. Baron, MD, American Board of Internal Medicine, 510 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106; e-mail, [email protected]org.Current Author Addresses: Dr. Baron: American Board of Internal Medicine, 510 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106.Dr. Johnson: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, G5.206, Dallas, TX 75390-9030.Author Contributions: Conception and design: R.J. Baron, D. Johnson.Analysis and interpretation of the data: R.J. Baron.Drafting of the article: R.J. Baron, D. Johnson.Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: R.J. Baron, D. Johnson.Final approval of the article: R.J. Baron, D. Johnson.Administrative, technical, or logistic support: R.J. Baron, D. Johnson.This article was published online first at www.annals.org on 13 May 2014. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement Annals Author Insight Video - Richard J. Baron, MD In this video, Richard J. Baron, MD, offers additional insight into his Ideas and Opinions piece, "The American Board of Internal Medicine: Evolving Professional Self-Regulation." FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoMaintenance of Certification: Beauty Is in the Eyes of the Beholder Robert M. Centor , David A. Fleming , and Darilyn V. Moyer Maintenance of Certification: Beauty Is in the Eyes of the Beholder Robert M. Centor , David A. Fleming , and Darilyn V. Moyer The American Board of Internal Medicine Edward Volpintesta The American Board of Internal Medicine Timothy Kleinschmidt The American Board of Internal Medicine Joseph J. Weiss The American Board of Internal Medicine Richard J. 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A Question of Quality and Identification for PsychologistsPhysician Attitudes About Maintenance of CertificationDoes Australia need credentialed emergency nurse specialists?The American Board of Internal MedicineEdward Volpintesta, MDThe American Board of Internal MedicineTimothy Kleinschmidt, MDThe American Board of Internal MedicineJoseph J. Weiss, MDMaintenance of CertificationAntoinette Spevetz, MDMaintenance of Certification: Beauty Is in the Eyes of the BeholderRobert M. Centor, MD, David A. Fleming, MD, MA, and Darilyn V. Moyer, MD 5 August 2014Volume 161, Issue 3Page: 221-223KeywordsDisclosureElectronic medical recordsHealth careHealth care qualityMedicareMotivationObservational studiesPatientsSub-specialty careSurgeons ePublished: 5 August 2014 Issue Published: 5 August 2014 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2014 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...