Specialty Certificate Examination Research Articles

Athena: Specialty Certificate Examination case for psychodermatology.

Athena speciality examination MCQ focused on a presentation of psychodermatologic disease. Explanation includes key teaching points relevant for candidates.

Athena: Specialty Certificate Examination case for General Dermatology and for Dermatology in Primary Health Care.

Athena: Specialty Certificate Examination case for General Dermatology and for Dermatology in Primary Health Care.

Athena Specialty Certificate Examination case for formulation and systemic therapy.

Athena Specialty Certificate Examination case for formulation and systemic therapy.

Athena: Specialty Certificate Examination case for outpatient medical dermatology.

A twenty-year-old black woman presents to clinic with a two-year history of recurrent nodules and abscesses affecting the groins and axillae. She manages this with intermittent courses of oral antibiotics from the GP when she has a flare. She smokes 10 cigarettes per day and drinks 7 units of alcohol per week. She mentions that over the last six months she has experienced abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and fatigue. There is no recent history of foreign travel.

Athena specialty certificate examination case for inflammatory dermatosis.

This is a specialty certificate examination style question on the diagnosis of the inflammatory rash shown in the figure.

Athena: Specialty Certificate Examination case for formulation and systemic therapy.

Athena: Specialty Certificate Examination case for formulation and systemic therapy.

How to Prepare for the SCE in Neurology

A significant milestone in specialty training and necessary in the road to becoming a Consultant Neurologist, the Specialty Certificate Examination in Neurology is a useful opportunity for revision and improvement of clinical knowledge and clinical reasoning skills but can be an anxiety-inducing experience for many trainees. Here we provide a collection of resources and tips that were useful in our own preparation for the SCE. This is still based on our personal experiences and represents a biased view so bear this in mind when you are constructing your own tailored revision plan! We apologise if in places we are stating the obvious, but we hope this will be of use to those contemplating the exam from different locations and circumstances.

Redeploying Residents and Fellows in Response to COVID-19: Tensions, Guiding Principles, and Lessons From the University of Washington.

Redeploying Residents and Fellows in Response to COVID-19: Tensions, Guiding Principles, and Lessons From the University of Washington.

Does Performance on the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Initial Certification Examinations Predict Future Physician Disciplinary Actions?

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between performance on the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation primary certification examinations and the risk of subsequent disciplinary actions by state medical boards over a physician's career. The hypothesis is that physicians who do not pass either or both of the two initial specialty certification examinations are at higher risk of disciplinary action from a state medical licensing board. This is a retrospective cohort study that analyzed board certification examination data from all physicians who completed physical medicine and rehabilitation residency between 1968 and 2017. Matching examination and license data were available for 9889 physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, who received a total of 547 disciplinary action reports through the Federation of State Medical Boards. The results showed a significant correlation between failing an American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation certification examination and the risk of subsequent disciplinary action by a state medical board. Failure to pass either the written (Part I) or oral (Part II) examination increased the risk of subsequent disciplinary action by 5.77-fold (P < 0.0001, 95% confidence interval = 4.07-8.18). Physicians in physical medicine and rehabilitation who do not pass initial certification examinations and become board certified are at higher risk of disciplinary action from a state medical licensing board throughout their careers.

Ian Forgacs: flamboyant and modernising president of the British Society of Gastroenterology

Ian Forgacs Credit: Helen Forgacs Those at the 2016 awayday of the British Gastroenterology Society (BSG) did not expect Hamlet’s soliloquy to be on the agenda. But Ian Forgacs, the...

Effectiveness of Written and Oral Specialty Certification Examinations to Predict Actions against the Medical Licenses of Anesthesiologists

The American Board of Anesthesiology administers written and oral examinations for its primary certification. This retrospective cohort study tested the hypothesis that the risk of a disciplinary action against a physician's medical license is lower in those who pass both examinations than those who pass only the written examination. Physicians who entered anesthesiology training from 1971 to 2011 were followed up to 2014. License actions were ascertained via the Disciplinary Action Notification Service of the Federation of State Medical Boards. The incidence rate of license actions was relatively stable over the study period, with approximately 2 to 3 new cases per 1,000 person-years. In multivariable models, the risk of license actions was higher in men (hazard ratio = 1.88 [95% CI, 1.66 to 2.13]) and lower in international medical graduates (hazard ratio = 0.73 [95% CI, 0.66 to 0.81]). Compared with those passing both examinations on the first attempt, those passing neither examination (hazard ratio = 3.60 [95% CI, 3.14 to 4.13]) and those passing only the written examination (hazard ratio = 3.51 [95% CI, 2.87 to 4.29]) had an increased risk of receiving an action from a state medical board. The risk was no different between the latter two groups (P = 0.81), showing that passing the oral but not the written primary certification examination is associated with a decreased risk of subsequent license actions. For those with residency performance information available, having at least one unsatisfactory training record independently increased the risk of license actions. These findings support the concept that an oral examination assesses domains important to physician performance that are not fully captured in a written examination.

A guide to useful revision resources for the Specialty Certificate Examination in dermatology

A guide to useful revision resources for the Specialty Certificate Examination in dermatology

Recommendations for Aligning PGY2 Pharmacy Residency Training and Pharmacy Specialist Board Certification.

With the increased focus and anticipated growth in specialty training and certification within the profession of pharmacy, it is important for the profession to step back and evaluate the manner in which its adopted education and certification systems interface. As a result of specialty practice development, significant growth is occurring in both postgraduate year two (PGY2) pharmacy residency programs and individuals seeking certification by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties. As the profession continues to evolve its specialty training and credentialing systems, it is important to consider the inherent relationship between these systems. This paper considers the current landscape of specialty training and certification, including issues related to the quality of PGY2 training, consistent application of standards across and within PGY2 programs, credentialing of preceptors and program directors, and alignment of training with specialty certification examination content domains. We outline recommendations across three areas: (1) creating consistency between specialty training and certification, (2) aligning qualifications of PGY2 residency program directors and preceptors with the designated specialty area, and (3) assessing program quality in the context of the expectations of specialists established by the profession. The goal of this paper is to stimulate professional dialogue on these issues. Establishing both formal and informal connections between specialty training and certification can serve as the foundation for a rational approach to professional development and the credentialing that will be recognized by stakeholders outside the pharmacy profession. Establishing these connections will also support and advance the profession's mission of meeting the medication needs of patients.

Einschätzung der Weiterbildung im Fach Allgemeinmedizin in Bayern – eine Online-Befragung von Ärzten in Weiterbildung

Statistical projections suggest that by 2020 the number of general practitioners (GPs) in Germany will have decreased by about 13%, which will lead to a risk of medical undersupply, especially in rural areas. This study was conducted on behalf of the Bavarian Ministry of Environment and Health in order to answer the following questions: How satisfied are young Bavarian physicians in GP specialty training with their training situation? To what extent are they willing to start a private practice, in general and, in particular, in rural areas? The study's online questionnaire contained items concerning the context of GP specialty training and the willingness to set up a private practice. In addition, the "Heidelberger Niederlassungsbarometer", a structured questionnaire illustrating self-assessment of competencies of GPs in training, was included in the survey. We asked GP specialty trainees to participate by e-maiI, directly or via their GP trainers. In total, 99 questionnaires were returned, whereof 95 fulfilled the criteria for analysis. In 76% of the cases participants were female, 63% working in practice and 37% in a structured training programme. The majority of participants (58%) preferred to work in a practice with more than one GP, followed by those preferring to work as a salaried GP (26%). Their disposition to work in rural areas after having passed their specialty certificate examination was high or very high (59%). Feedback on a regular basis was given to 29% of the study participants. Almost every second participant received a structured initial training programme. Most of the participating GP trainees (59%) were satisfied or very satisfied with their training. In general, there is a high level of motivation among study participants to become an independent and self-employed GP, also in rural areas. Despite the fact that not even every second received central training elements like individual feedback and structured initial training, the participants were mostly satisfied with their GP specialty training.

New milestone: More than 20,000 pharmacists hold BPS certification

The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) has reached new heights, with the total number of board-certified pharmacists now at 21,560 following administration of the fall 2014 examination—an increase of 12% from 2013. Exceeding 20,000 board-certified pharmacists is a very important milestone for BPS, demonstrating that BPS credentials are sought by an increasing number of pharmacists and recognized by employers around the globe.

Editorial introductions

Editorial introductions

UK postgraduate medicine examinations: opportunities for international candidates

The medical profession is global, and ambitious trainee physicians around the world are eager to attain internationally recognised postgraduate medical qualifications. The MRCP(UK) and specialty certificate examinations of the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom provide such qualifications, and between 2002 and 2013, the number of international candidates attempting these examinations grew substantially. Delivering these proven and reliable UK-based examinations in other countries has many local benefits: it enhances careers, strengthens medical training and improves standards of patient care. In collaboration with international colleagues, the Federation is committed to continued growth that extends these benefits to all physicians, wherever they work and live.

BPS certifications continue to expand rapidly

The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) recently reported that a total of 3,247 pharmacists successfully passed the 2013BPS specialty certification and recertification examinations. There are now 19,109BPS board-certified pharmacists, representing an increase of almost 21% from 2012.

Heart Failure Boot Camp: Developing a Better Understanding of the Disease and Creating Effective Palliative Strategies for Management (P4)

4. Identify strategies to initiate and develop palliative care programs across healthcare settings to promote continuity of care and integrated palliative care services. 5. Review physical and psychological symptoms associated with advanced illness and discuss pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. 6. Utilize educational methods consistent with patients’ and families’ preferred mode of learning to promote understanding of serious or life-threatening illness, treatment options, management, and supportive resources. The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association supports nurses seeking advancement of their professional development and career with specialty certification. This 1-day course encompasses the fundamental concepts of palliative nursing. The review course will provide a review of the content areas based on the NBCHPN detailed test content outline. This course may be used to increase the hospice and palliative nurse’s knowledge of general palliative nursing or to assist the nurse in self-identifying topics that require further preparation and study in advance of sitting for the specialty certification examination. Note: Participation in a review course does not guarantee successful completion of a certification test. CEs7.5 Contact Hours/4.5 designated pharmacology hours The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Required materials: APRN Certification Preparation Coursed Advanced Practice Nurse Core Curriculum for the Advanced Practice Nurse ACHPN Candidate Handbook e available for print for free from the NBCHPN website

Book Review: Revision Notes for the Respiratory Medicine Specialty Certificate Examination

Book Review: Revision Notes for the Respiratory Medicine Specialty Certificate Examination