By C.
Douglas Phillips, MD
What do you
all think of the push to the MOC and the new Boards? I have opinions. For sure. I’d like to hear a few thoughts from you all.
Here’s my
brief word – we were plainly going to have some changes, and the idea of
lifetime certification is plainly dated, not all that smart at the outset when
you think about it, and was destined to be ended. So, keeping current and
maintaining your certificate seems reasonable.
However, the introduction of the system has been maddening. Is it just
me, or have the rules changed, the disclaimers been completely crazy, and the
average radiologist has been left out of the process? I have spoken to many
members of the ABR, and I know the intent is good, and they are bowing to many
external powers, notably the government, and also the American Board of Medical
Specialties. I’m not sure anyone understands the entirety of the new system. I have
spoken to a number of radiologists around the area, and all are confused. And,
the potential for missteps and errors increase with the degree of confusion.
The
disclaimer is a particularly vexing problem. I actually read the entirety of the
thing. Have you all done that? Disclaimers are often ignored by people - when I
download software from Apple, there is a long disclaimer. Many, many pages. I
don't read it. Sorry, that's just the way it is. This one is shorter, but has
sections that are a question to me. I've been told that "You should ignore
most of that,” and "Everyone does a broad disclaimer, they are rarely used,"
but I can't. This is my livelihood. This is a topic that I found incredibly
important to me, and I read carefully the document. Yikes. Maybe I shouldn't
have.
So, what do
you all think?
Professional
Biography: C. Douglas Phillips, MD, FACR, is
a Professor of Radiology, Director of Head and Neck Imaging, at Weill Cornell Medical
College, NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY. He is a member of the Applied
Radiology Editorial Advisory Board.