Clinical Congress 2014 will feature many opportunities for attendees to earn continuing medical education (CME) and Self-Assessment credits for American Board of Surgery (ABS) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part 2. Attendees should be aware of changes in the requirements for fulfilling new MOC Part 2 requirements and of the new processes for claiming CME and Self-Assessment credits. The College will be implementing some changes in how surgeons can claim their educational credits to help make this process smoother and ensure that attendees can meet the new deadline of December 1, 2014.
The ABS recently changed the requirements for Part 2 of its MOC program. Of the 90 CME credits required every three years, 60 credits must be Self-Assessment credits. Self-Assessment activities are required to assess understanding of the material presented in the CME program. A minimum score of 75 percent correct or higher must be achieved, with unlimited attempts. Table 1 indicates the types of sessions that offer CME and Self-Assessment credits.
Table 1. Sessions offering CME, Self-Assessment credits
|
Session type |
Offers CME |
Offers Self-Assessment |
|
Named Lectures |
X |
|
|
Panel Sessions |
X |
x |
|
Scientific Papers |
X |
|
|
Surgical Forum Sessions |
X |
|
|
Video-Based Education Sessions |
x |
x |
|
Meet-the-Expert Luncheons |
x |
|
|
Poster Presentation of Exceptional Merit |
x |
|
|
Postgraduate Didactic Courses |
x |
x |
|
Postgraduate Skills Courses |
x |
x |
|
Town Hall Meetings |
Claiming credits
Table 2 outlines how attendees can earn CME and Self-Assessment credits. In order to earn and claim educational credit, physicians must go to www.cme.facs.org. Your name badge with the REG ID number or your ACS ID number will be needed. The individual session evaluations and the posttests required for Self-Assessment credit must be completed online. After completing your last activity at the Clinical Congress, the Global Evaluation must be completed online at www.cme.facs.org.
Table 2. Process for earning and claiming CME and Self-Assessment credit
|
Process |
To claim CME |
To earn Self-Assessment |
|
Attend session |
x |
x |
|
Complete each session evaluation online at www.cme.facs.org. Use a kiosk in the Moscone Center or access off-site at your convenience |
x |
x |
| Complete posttest online at cme.facs.org and achieve a minimum score of 75 percent correct with unlimited attempts |
x |
|
|
After attending your final activity at the Clinical Congress, complete the Global Evaluation online no later than December 1, 2014 |
x |
x |
|
Once the online Global Evaluation is completed, your certificate will be available online* |
x |
x |
*Except certain Postgraduate Courses.
Session evaluations and the global evaluation may be completed using kiosks located throughout the Moscone Center. ACS staff will be available on-site to assist. Completion of a Global Evaluation is required to claim CME Credit and earn Self-Assessment Credit, as well as generate a CME certificate. The Global Evaluation should be completed after you have attended your last activity at the Clinical Congress and must be completed by December 1, 2014.
CME certificates are available online following completion of the session evaluations and the global evaluation. Attendees will be able to go to cme.facs.org at their convenience and log in using the REG ID number or ACS ID number on their name badge. Surgeons will be able to print the Clinical Congress 2014 certificate off-site, as well as transcripts of all sessions attended. A number of Postgraduate Courses have additional requirements that need verification following the conclusion of Clinical Congress. Allow up to four to six weeks for notification to claim certificates for these courses. Certificates of Attendance are available online.
For additional information on how to claim CME credit or earn Self-Assessment credit, read the instructions on the CME Claiming site, call the My CME office after Clinical Congress at 866-918-4799 or 312-202-5430, or e-mail the College at mycme@facs.org. Fellows and Associate Fellows can access their CME Certificates online after logging in using their ACS Member ID and going to My CME.
