Recording Part IV credit
Processes involved in recording Part IV Credit and related issues include:
Process for recording Part IV participation
- Individual physicians attest to their participation on the QI project
- Dartmouth Health MOC Part IV staff report participation to relevant boards
Timing issues for submission and recording
- Boards record meeting a Part IV requirement in the year the Board receives notification of participation
- Submitting to ABMS during last year of a MOC cycle or sub-cycle: by November 30 of that year
Part IV credit for multiple boards
- One project meets requirements of all participating boards
- May submit separately to non-participating boards
Following completion of the QI project and approval of the completed Worksheet, Part IV Program staff will provide Physician Attestation form to the project participants.
On the attestation form the physician provides his or her certifying boards and related identification numbers, and documents participation details, personal reflections concerning the value of the project, and future plans regarding QI efforts.
Reports participation to relevant boards
Part IV Program staff submit the physician's name, relevant Board(s) and ID number(s), and project name to the ABMS Multi-specialty Part IV MOC program. In turn, the ABMS Multi-specialty Part IV MOC Program submits the information to the relevant certifying Board(s). The process typically takes 4 to 6 weeks from the Part IV Program receiving a participation attestation to participation being recorded on by certifying Board on a physician's file.
Timing issues for submission and recording
Boards record meeting a Part IV requirement in the year the board receives notification of participation
Although a physician's participation ends with the completion of the QI project, Boards record Part IV when they receive notification of an individual's participation. Attestation forms are typically submitted shortly following the end of a project, so the year in which participation ended and the year in which a Board receives notification and records Part IV is typically the same. However, Part IV may be recorded for a year following the end of participation in the project if the project ends near the end of a year or if a physician delays completing the attestation form and submitting it to the Part IV Program.
Submitting during last year of a MOC cycle or sub-cycle
The timely submission of documentation for a completed QI project and of attestation forms for individual participants is particularly important for physicians whose certification period will end in the year that the project ends. Due to the volume of information submitted near the end of the year, the ABMS Part IV Program has early deadlines to assure that Boards receive notification of approved QI projects and record an individual's Part IV before the end of the year that participation occurred. Final reports of QI projects documenting that the project met Part IV requirements must be both submitted to and approved by the Part IV Program by the first week in October. Attestation forms for individuals must be submitted to the Part IV Program by the end of November.
By the end of the year of the current cycle/sub-cycle, if a Board has no record that the Part IV requirement has been met, the Board considers the physician not to have maintained certification. While delayed submission will eventually be recorded for Part IV during the subsequent year, the physician may have to work with the Board to assure that the physician's MOC status is restored. (Some financial charge may be involved.)
Part IV for multiple boards
One project meets requirements of all participating boards
Many physicians are certified by more than one board (e.g., Internal Medicine and Pediatrics). The Boards participating in the Multi-specialty Part IV Program have agreed that their shared intent is for physicians to be engaged in assessing and improving care. Therefore, all participating Boards recognize the completion of a QI project designated for Part IV even if the content applies to another clinical area. For example, if a physician who is "double boarded" in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics performs a QI activity to improve care for adults with diabetes that qualifies for Part IV credit, both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics would credit the physician with having completed a Part IV activity. (Note that the two boards have different requirements regarding the number and frequency with which Part IV activities must be performed.)
May submit separately to non-participating boards
Not all Boards currently participate in the Multi-specialty Part IV Program. Physicians certified by a participating Board and by a non-participating Board may be able to apply individually to the non-participating board for Part IV credit for the QI activity. Most of the information needed to apply will be included in the project application/final report for the activity and the attestation of participation.