"Note: There is evidence that the ABIM has heard the concerns of its diplomats and is acting responsively. In a July 10, 2014 letter to the internal medicine community, and in a face-to-face meeting in Philadelphia on July 15, 2014, which was attended by 26 internal medicine subspecialty societies including the ACC, the ABIM committed to:

  • Provide a 1-year grace period for those who have attempted but failed to pass the secure examination.
  • Update its governance and financial information on its website.
  • Ensure a broader range of CME options for medical knowledge and skills self-assessment (Part II).
  • Provide more feedback regarding test scores.
  • Evolve the “patient survey” requirement to a “patient voice” requirement and increase the number of ways this requirement can be met.
  • Reduce the data collection requirement for the practice assessment requirement; utilizing performance improvement activities already in place and minimizing the time and complexity of data input.
  • Investigate changes in the secure examination to increase relevance with specific attention to exploring applications for practice focus areas (“modular examinations”) and open-book examinations.