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Volume 26 (2)
Volume 26, Issue 2, Spring 2006
J Contin Educ Health Prof 2006; 26(2):
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Promoting Physicians' Self-Assessment and Quality Improvement: The ABIM Diabetes Practice Improvement Module
Eric S. Holmboe
Thomas P. Meehan
Lorna Lynn
Paula Doyle
Tierney Sherwin
F. Daniel Duffy
A b s t r a c t
Introduction: The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) recognized that certification
and recertification must be based on an assessment of performance in practice as well
as an examination of medical knowledge. Physician self-assessment of practice performance
is proposed as one method that certification boards may use to evaluate competence in practice-
based learning and improvement and systems-based practice.
Methods: Sixteen practicing general internists and endocrinologists with 10-year time-limited
certification participated in a beta test of the ABIM’s diabetes practice improvement module
(PIM) as part of their recertification program. A PIM consists of a self-directed medical
record audit, practice system survey, and patient survey. A quality improvement education
specialist from the Connecticut Quality Improvement Organization provided on-site and distance
consultation on quality improvement methods and tools. An independent audit assessed
the reliability of physician self-audit. Qualitative interviews were conducted at 2 time points
to assess for physician satisfaction and behavioral change in quality improvement.
Results: Fourteen physicians completed the diabetes PIM. All but 1 physician found the medical
record audit to provide important information about the practice. Of the 11 physicians
who completed a follow-up interview, 10 stated that the quality improvement education specialist
helped improve their practice.
Discussion: Self-assessment using the ABIM diabetes PIM as part of recertification provides
valuable practice information and can lead to meaningful behavioral change by physicians.
Collaboration with an educator in quality improvement appears to facilitate the effects of the
practice improvement module. Future work should investigate the effect on patient outcomes.
Lessons for Practice
- Self-assessment using practice improvement modules as part of maintenance of certification programs can lead to meaningful behavioral change by physicians in quality improvement
- Collaboration with an educator in quality improvement as part of maintenance-of-certification programs can enhance the effectiveness of practice improvement modules
- Assessment of performance in practice as part of the maintenance-of-certification programs has the potential to improve quality of care.
Key Words: self-assessment, quality improvement, maintenance of certification
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