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With changing clinical practices, healthcare regulations, and oversight, it can be difficult for anesthesiologists to find time to maintain their medical knowledge and participate in continuing medical education. Clinical Pain Advisor talked with Cynthia Lien, MD, president of the American Board of Anesthesiology, to find out how the new version of the ABA’s CME program, which will launch in January, will help anesthesiologists stay on top of their medical knowledge.
Clinical Pain Advisor: What are the top issues anesthesiologists will be facing in 2016?
Dr. Cynthia Lien: Anesthesiologists, like other physicians, are managing changes in clinical practice and evolving healthcare regulation and oversight. At the same time, they are also required to maintain their medical knowledge so they can continue to provide exceptional patient care. With such a demanding schedule, it can be challenging to participate in continuing medical education (CME) and other learning opportunities. The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) has incorporated online learning and assessment into its Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program (MOCA) so physicians can fit it in when it’s most convenient for them.
Clinical Pain Advisor: How can clinicians in the field stay abreast of changing medical knowledge and the latest developments in anesthesiology?
Dr. Lien: The ABA administers its MOCA to help physicians keep their medical knowledge current. In addition to keeping knowledge current, participation in MOCA also demonstrates our physicians’ commitment to lifelong learning and improving patient safety. We recently redesigned the program, which will launch in January. The new program, known as MOCA 2.0, includes a learning and assessment tool that allows us to introduce the latest developments in clinical guidelines and medical practice. Using this tool, anesthesiologists can learn new concepts quickly and the Board can continuously assess their knowledge to make sure it remains current.
