Exceeding the Vision

ABPS SMEs are Key to ABPS Certification Success

We are grateful for the Diplomates who participated in the recent ABPS examination development workshops. Your continued commitment to the development and administration of high-quality ABPS certification programs is vital to maintaining our rigorous board certification standards. If you are interested in participating in future workshops, email the ABPS Certification Department at certification@abpsus.org.

The 2020- 2021 Winter Meeting Schedule:

Administrative Medicine – December 7-8, 2020

Orthopedic Surgery – December 10-11, 2020

Anesthesiology – January 7-8, 2021

Family Medicine Obstetrics – January 11-12, 2021

Integrative Medicine – January 18-19, 2021

Radiology – January 14-15, 2021

Internal Medicine – January 25-26, 2021

Disaster Medicine – January 28-29, 2021

Emergency Medicine – February 1-4, 2021

Dermatology – January 21-22, 2021

Family Medicine – February 11-12, 2021

Urgent Care – February 15-16, 2021

Federal Regulatory and Legislative Activities

Much advancement in our strategy and efforts have been made since June of 2019. AAPS Chief Executive Officer Jeff Morris, JD, and our external affairs consultant, Monique Tapie, continue to positively grow the credibility and perception of the ABPS boards of certification. Their work has exponentially increased before key House and Senate stakeholders with strong oversight in the areas most impacting our physicians’ certifications. From faceto-face meetings, to committee briefings, the team has made great strides in unveiling the vast control and negative impact the monopoly has on patient safety and care, along with patient access to highly skilled board-certified physicians.

Most recently, the team has been able to capitalize on the development of the White Paper developed by the nationally recognized antitrust attorney on the “call for antitrust enforcement of the ABMS”. The White Paper supports the ABPS’ external affairs team’s longstanding work with key stakeholders on how the monopoly in physician board certification is a threat to our overall healthcare system, and how the country is in need of change of the antiquated healthcare system the monopoly controls. The White Paper greatly demonstrates the need for competition within physician board certification and recognizes ABPS as a true standard and choice.

In addition, the unfortunate COVID-19 pandemic has allowed Jeff, Monique, and the team to expand their work with influencers inclusive of Attorneys General, the DOJ and FTC, along with legislators. Their work has allowed them to expose the damage the monopoly has had on patient access to critical care at a time of the greatest healthcare crisis our country has seen in the last century.

Our dedicated team is now more driven than ever, especially as they continue to build upon the foundation they have so strongly and successfully established.

Exceeding the Vision

State Legislative Activities

During this year’s legislative session ABPS lobbied on 64 bills in 26 states. There were 30 bills that included ABMS and only one incorporated ABPS. Our national lobbyist, Linda Murphy, successfully killed 3 of these bills and prevented ABMS from being listed exclusively in law. ABPS was also able to successfully defeat the Lobbied 64 Bills Interstate Medical Licensure Compact bill in New York state. Currently, most of the other bills are still in the beginning phases of the legislative process. Due to the COVID-19 shutdowns that began happening in March, most legislatures stopped meeting. We are hopeful in 26 States that state legislatures will extend their meetings into the summer to complete their work for the year and allow us to continue advocating for your ABPS Board Certification. Injury claims

ABPS lobbied on 78 bills in 28 states

dropped

Record Attendance at 2019 Annual Meeting

killed 45 bills Currently, she is working to amend 20 bills that are still active

The 2019 AAPS House of Delegates & Annual for employers that 10% Linda Gray Murphy, successfully

Scientific Meeting held in Orlando, FL, brought together more ABPS Diplomates than ever before and offered a timely and impressive selection of particpate in a state safety grant program. presentations related to contemporary issues in healthcare.

AAPS Leadership Academy

Currently in development is the AAPS Leadership Academy. Its mission is to enhance the skills of members who seek leadership opportunities with the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc. and within their own individual medical practices. Academy participants will be given the opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of the AAPS and the role of volunteers in nonprofit leadership, while enhancing their personal leadership skills.

The goal of the program is to help you build leadership strengths to achieve greater impact. Participation in the Academy will require a commitment of time, including two in person meetings and multiple online training sessions.

ABPS Listed on CAQH

ABPS Member Boards are now listed in the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare’s (CAQH) Proview application. CAQH is a platform that gathers enrollment and credentialing data in a single repository for participating health plans and other healthcare organizations. This progress is another example of the continued advancement of ABPS acceptance. The effort was funded by your generous contributions to NIF.

Recruitment Efforts Each One Recruit One Over the past year the external Do you know any colleagues who would appreciate having

Increase Awareness and Value of Your Certification

affairs team has been engaging a choice in board certification? If so, let them know the

American Board of Physician Specialties ® , which is both in a multitude of recruitment federally and nationally recognized, offers options for qualified physicians in a variety of specialties. Tell them that ABPS’s efforts. These efforts include pragmatic approach for board certification enables today’s physicians to gain personal and professional growth, while the addition of Search Engine continuing with the highest ethical and clinical standards.

They can learn more at www.abpsus.org.

Optimization (SEO) articles in *Current Diplomates of ABMS and AOA are application deadline reminders, eligible to recertify with ABPS.

applicant and recognition leads from conferences, and the continuous movement of our Diplomates recruiting colleagues. From 2019 to 2020 we have seen a 20% increase in our total number of initial applicants.

Our team is constantly working towards the ultimate success of all member boards and looks forward to seeing the continuous growth of this organization. ABPS encourages you to continue educating your peers on having a choice in Board Certification and welcome any new recruiting ideas that you may have.

Exceeding the Vision

New ABPS Website

The American Board of Physician Specialties is in the final stages of launching a new website at www.abpsus.org. In addition to user-friendly and easy to navigate, the new website is mobile responsive. Some of the features of the new site include:

Easy navigation – Doctors, patients, and medical staff professionals can find the information they need effortlessly.

Carefully crafted page layouts and site architecture – This allows for a clean and easy user experience despite the broad scope of services and users that need to be accommodated. Mobile responsiveness - All information is readily available and easy to access on mobile devices.

A pleasant browsing experience – Journeyformatted layouts and visuals on the primary pages create a comfortable pace for users browsing the site.

A focus on credibility – While the primary objective is an easy user experience, the site also helps users understand the expertise and credibility that ABPS brings to the field. Balancing navigation and page layouts to accommodate both seamlessly is a significant success of this new web presence.

AAEP Fellowship Recognition Growth

The American Academy of Emergency Physicians (AAEP) provides recognition to specific fellowships that have achieved a level of training for physicians to demonstrate competency and mastery of the specialty. Over the past year the AAEP Fellowship Recognition program has continued to see growth. Today, the AAEP recognizes 15 programs, has 4 sites in the application process, and we continuously receive inquiries for recognition.

With an expanded external affairs team and improved communication with Fellows, we’ve seen an increase in applications for the written and oral emergency medicine exams. While the oral exam has been delayed due to COVID-19, thirty-five percent of this year’s candidates are Fellows from our recognized fellowship programs. Also, forty-nine percent of this year’s new written exam applicants that are eligible are Fellows from our recognized programs. Completion of an AAEP recognized fellowship is one of the ways for physicians to become eligible to apply for the Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM) exam.

Creating ABPS Awareness

Our other marketing communications program continue to increase awareness of ABPS board certification for physicians seeking a choice in certification options. These programs include messaging specialty specific residents and physicians on Doximity, targeted digital advertising, event marketing at physician and medical staff professional conferences, and content marketing featuring articles discussing the work of ABPS Diplomates. Our goal with these efforts is to build relationships with industry programs and potential applicants.

Exceeding the Vision

wNew AAPS Membership Database

The introduction of a new series of missionessential software and cloud-based IT services are preparing AAPS operations for the future while building on the Strategic Plan. Protech Associates, Inc., a Microsoft Gold Cloud Partner that delivers the most powerful association management software (AMS) built specifically for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and the Microsoft Power Platform is a partner in advancing our operations. Protech’s robust, easy-to-use AMS is certified in Microsoft AppSource and is delivered in the Azure Trusted Cloud. It is through this partnership that the Protech AMS delivers an integrated suite of member database, financial, web, and analytics tools that will help our organization identify, nurture, and strengthen valuable member relationships.

Enhancements to Financial Reporting

Over the past year, the AAPS Finance team has made several enhancements in our current financial reporting formatting, coupled with coordination with the Comptroller team of Fontana CPAs who has assisted with strategically positioning our boards of certification with the information needed to continue to advance and adapt to the challenges of our times. The Fontana CPAs group, working with the AAPS finance team, continues to evaluate our financial structure and make recommendations for cost-saving alternatives that are in line with our strategic goals.