FIRST COHORT OF PHYSICIANS IN MC-FP COMPLETE SECOND STAGE IN STRONG NUMBERS

Abstract

The American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) is pleased to announce as of March 1, 2010, almost 8,500 of the Diplomates who certified or recertified in 2003 successfully met the deadline of completing their Stage 1 and Stage 2 requirements for Maintenance of Certification for Family Physicians (MC-FP) and have been granted a 3-year extension of their current certificate, creating a 10-year certificate. The 2003 Diplomates were the first cohort to begin MC-FP and to be eligible to extend their 7-year certificate to a 10-year certificate. For those Diplomates who certified or recertified in 2006 and who began MC-FP in 2007, close to 8,000 have successfully completed Stage 1 and are currently in Stage 2. The first 3-year stage of the MC-FP process includes completing either 3 Part II Modules (SAMs), or 2 Part II Modules and 1 Part IV Module (PPM or approved alternate). Stage 2 requirements include 2 Part II Modules (SAMs) and 1 Part IV Module (PPM or approved alternate). These requirements may be completed anytime prior to the deadline. The ABFM Web site will immediately indicate the 3-year certificate extension upon Diplomates’ completion of Stage 2 requirements. The Diplomates who certified or recertified in 2007, and who began MC-FP in 2008, must complete their Stage 1 requirements by December 31, 2010. To date, close to 3,800 of the 2008 cohort have completed 1 or more SAM and are on track to complete their Stage 1 requirements by the end of the year. Diplomates who certified or recertified in 2008 have until December 31, 2011 to complete Stage 1 requirements. Diplomates who certified or recertified in 2009 may now begin working on the MC-FP Modules at their convenience. Stage 1 requirements due by December 31, 2012. In order to help all Diplomates keep track of their progress in MC-FP, the ABFM has updated its Web site to reflect the 7-year or 10-year track chosen by the Diplomate. All Diplomates are encouraged to visit the ABFM Web site (http://www.theabfm.org) and login to the physician’s portfolio section. The ABFM Web site now publicly reports MC-FP status as part of Diplomate certification status.