APA Elections 2013: Which Candidates Have a Public Position on the MOC…(With Apologies to Dr. Joseph Napoli)?

This is an announcement about the American Psychiatric Association (APA) elections, which are now open; go to web link APA National Elections | psychiatry.org. Based on my quick scan of those running for office, only Maria A. Oquendo, MD, one of the candidates for APA Secretary (http://www.oquendoforapa.com/), (However, I’ve been taken to task by Dr. Joseph Napoli, MD, DLFAPA; see comments below; I retract my ill-considered and hasty assumption–with gratitude for the lesson) has a detailed, publicly available position on the Maintenance of Certification issue, copied below:

“Maintenance of Certification (MOC)

As they stand, Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirements have benefits for our profession and patients. By ensuring that psychiatrists keep current with advances in medical care, we can improve the quality of care that patients receive. Currently, MOC has relied on psychiatrists participating in CME and self-assessment activities, and demonstrating their expertise through passing periodic recertification examinations. Recently, there have been efforts to expand MOC requirements to add a new PIP (Performance-in-practice) component focusing on various aspects of one’s clinical practice, including chart review and peer and patient feedback requirements. As currently proposed, these requirements are onerous and have the potential to negatively impact the psychiatrist-patient relationship. Worse there is no evidence that they can provide useful information. The APA must develop a formal position on MOC that is vetted by the Assembly and Board of Trustees that delineates and champions the best recertification requirements for the profession. In the process of developing such a position, it is essential to obtain input from both relevant APA components (i.e., APA Council on Medical Education and Lifelong Learning, MOC Caucus of the APA Assembly, BOT Workgroup on the Maintenance of Certification and from the subspecialties involved in recertification (i.e., AACAP, AAPL, APM, and AAGP). This position can form the basis of our efforts to influence the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) to adopt sensible recertification standards that are effective in meeting the goals of recertification and not unduly burdensome. Another key role for the APA will be to help District Branchs’ work with their state medical societies on licensure requirements that meet the needs of that state’s psychiatrists and their patients. This will be especially important if the ABPN moves in a direction counter to APA’s position on MOC. Such support can help the District Branches pushback against untoward licensing requirements. Last but not least, whatever the final recertification requirements are, the APA should develop tools and materials to help members meet their recertification requirements, expanding and tailoring efforts (such as FOCUS: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry which is currently ABPN approved to fulfill MOC requirements).”–Dr. Marie Oquendo, MD, candidate for APA Secretary

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