A more relevant and efficient maintenance of certification (MOC) process, evidence-based changes to resident/fellow duty hours to ensure patient safety, and improved access to care through innovations in residency program funding were among the actions called for by the AMA House of Delegates during the 2014 AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago.
Delegates voted for some important changes and clarifications to long-standing policies and elected to implement new policy on other issues.
- Maintenance of certification. Updated policy calls for the AMA to “oppose mandatory MOC as a condition of medical licensure, and encourage physicians to strive constantly to improve their care of patients by the means they find most effective.” The policy also calls for assessing the impact of MOC, osteopathic continuous certification and maintenance of licensure on physician practices. The updated policy came days after the AMA and American Board of Medical Specialties convened an unprecedented meeting to discuss the value of the MOC Part III exam requirement.
- Resident/fellow duty hours. The AMA updated its policies to ensure the AMA strongly and effectively advocates for evidence-based changes to duty hours, pending the outcomes of two new studies and other research.
- Graduate medical education (GME) financing. Delegates voted to support innovative state and federal solutions to protect access to care and alleviate physician shortages in undersupplied specialties and underserved areas. The policy calls for additional funding to increase the number of GME positions and meet critical health care needs.
- Competency-based education. A new policy encourages a more flexible, streamlined education system, moving away from traditional, time-bound measures of readiness for advancement and placing focus on the “gap” between undergraduate and graduate medical education. The policy emphasizes the AMA’s collaboration with stakeholders, such as the National Resident Matching Program and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, to study the impacts of competency-based education on the Match and entry into residency programs.
Reference Committee C vetted medical education issues and prepared a report for the House of Delegates. Kesavan Kutty, MD, chair of the committee during the meeting, noted the democratic yet rigorous nature of the process.
“The AMA policy-making process, through its HOD, ensures that all physicians can have a voice and a vote in the direction of the AMA,” Dr. Kutty said. “It was an honor to serve as Reference Committee chair and to help play a role in crystallizing the AMA’s position on so many topics of import to medical students, physicians-in-training, educators, and ultimately our patients.”
