U.S. Health Care
System
Physician
workforce
Changing Health Care Environment
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
• Federal Government
• National Committee for Quality Assurance
• National Quality Forum
• Insurance Groups
• Patients
Increasing Demand for Certification
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
• The body is a unit
• The body is self-healing
• Structure and function are
inter-related
• Rational treatment is based
on the integration of the
above
Osteopathic Distinctiveness
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
Aligning and enhancing education and assessment
across the continuum
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
COCA Accredited Colleges of
Osteopathic Medicine
Osteopathic Graduate Medical
Education
Board Certification
Continuing Medical
Education/ Board
Certification
Osteopathic Core Competencies
•Knowledge for Osteopathic Medical PracticeKnowledge
•Osteopathic Patient CareKnowledge
•Systems Based Practice in Osteopathic MedicineSkill
•Practice Based Learning & Improvement in Osteopathic MedicineSkill
• Interpersonal & Communication Skills in the Practice of Osteopathic MedicineAttitude
•Professionalism in the Practice of Osteopathic MedicineAttitude
•Osteopathic Principles and PracticePhilosophy
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
Why Osteopathic Certification?
AOA certification reflects commitment to ongoing evidence-based education that results in high-quality,
whole-person care
AOA certification demonstrates dedication to advance the standard of osteopathic focused medical care that
improves patient outcomes and satisfaction
AOA certification advances careers by demonstrating mastery of medical standards to patients, employers,
insurers and regulators
AOA certification is designed by physicians for physicians to enhance clinical knowledge and skills
throughout ones career
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
AOA Board Certification
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
Board of Trustees
Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists
Certifying Boards
AOA’s Department of
Certifying Board
Services administers the
policies and processes of
the BOS and the individual
certifying boards.
• Anesthesiology
• Dermatology
• Emergency Medicine
• Family Physicians
• Internal Medicine
• Nuclear Medicine
• NeuromusculoskeletalMedicine
• Neurology & Psychiatry
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology–HNS
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pediatrics
• Pathology
• Preventive Medicine
• Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
• Proctology
• Radiology
• Surgery
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
18 Osteopathic Specialties
AOA Certification
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
27,51928,631
30,62731,150
31,887
34,555
27,000
29,000
31,000
33,000
35,000
37,000
39,000
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Ce
rtif
icat
ion
s
Year Ending December 31
Active Certifications Held
Initial AOA Board Certification
• Osteopathic Physicians are eligible and
qualified to become certified upon
completion of an approved training program.
• Many specialties offer examinations earlier in
the process, allowing for conferring of
certification soon after completion of
residency.
• Board eligible status terminates on
December 31 of the sixth year after
completing the training program.
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
Who Is Eligible for AOA Certification?
Residency Fellowship Certification
AOA --- AOA
ACGME --- AOA or ABMS
AOA AOA AOA
AOA ACGME AOA
ACGME ACGME AOA or ABMS
ACGME AOA AOA
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
Examination Development
• Job Task Analysis (JTA)
– Survey
– Table of Specifications
• Item Writing / Item Review
• Test Construction
• Publication with Pearson VUE/ Prometric
• Standard Setting
• Exam Delivery
• Psychometric Analysis
• Score Reporting
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
AOA Board Certification
Such a program shall require a physician to do the following:
1. Maintain a valid, unrestricted medical license in the United
States;
2. Participate in educational and self-assessment programs
that require an assessment of what was learned;
3. Demonstrate, through a formalized, secure examination,
that the physician has the fundamental diagnostic skills,
medical knowledge, and clinical judgment to provide quality
care in their respective specialty;
4. Successful completion of a qualified Maintenance of
Certification Program practice assessment.
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
Continuing Certification: The Policy
Osteopathic Continuous Certification
• Active LicenseComponent 1
• Lifelong Learning/Continuing Medical EducationComponent 2
• Cognitive AssessmentComponent 3
• Practice Performance Assessment & ImprovementComponent 4
• Continuous AOA MembershipComponent 5
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine
2017 IOA 36th Annual Winter Update
70% of 3rd year students
indicated a “STRONG
DESIRE” to continue
training and recognition for
Osteopathic Medicine.