Quality Improvement and Maintenance of Certification

Abstract

Quality Improvement (QI) is an integral part of the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program. When the ABP addressed the core physician competency of Practice-Based Learning and Improvement approved by the ACGME and American Board of Medical Specialties in 2000, it made a strategic decision to adopt a QI approach rather than attempting to assess individual physician practice performance in a high-stakes manner. Although the ABP does assess medical knowledge and other aspects of professional development at the individual physician level, there are significant barriers to assessing individual physician clinical performance, including issues of attribution, risk adjustment, and small sample sizes.