Update on Certification

1. Update on Certification Ruth H. Nawotniak, MS, CTAGME UB – SUNY, Dept. of Surgery President, TAGME, STAC

2. Certification – TAGME • Pilot Phase – March 2005 – March 2006

3. Certification – TAGME • General Surgery • Pediatrics • Psychiatry

4. Certification – TAGME • Pending approval at May Board meeting • Thoracic Surgery • Vascular Surgery

5. Certification - TAGME • Task Forces • Diagnostic Radiology • Neurology • OB/GYN • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

6. Certification – TAGME • Pediatrics • 3 initial certifications • 21 applicants for certification – ITE site • 16 successfully completed and awarded • Next assessment time – April 2006

7. Certification – TAGME • Psychiatry • 5 initial certifications • Assessment tools approved – November 2005 • First assessment time – Spring 2006

8. Certification – TAGME • General Surgery • 18 initial certifications • 12 applicants for certification (prior to ARCS) • 3 – ACS meeting – October 2005 • 9 – ABSITE – January 2006 • Recommendations will be presented at May TAGME Board Meeting • 6 assessments to be reviewed – ARCS 2006 • Next assessment time – ACS - October 2006

9. Current Status • 26 initial certifications conferred • 24 assessments completed and reviewed • 17 successfully completed = 70% successful completion rate • 5 successfully completed one part = 20% partial successful completion rate • 2 did not successfully complete = 10% unsuccessful completion rate • 43 certifications conferred

10. Most Common Problems • Incomplete answers • Inappropriate answers • Insufficient or superficial answers • Sloppy work – unprofessionally submitted • Pencil • Answers written all over the page with directional arrows • Did not follow directions

11. Results of Pilot • Revisions made in assessment tools • Operational changes made

12. Revisions Made to Assessment Tools • In general, Advanced work effort eliminated • 3 questions taken from Advanced work effort and put into Required work effort • About 10% of the assessment was re-written to clarify • Directions for work effort product expanded

13. Operational Changes • Length of time increased from 4 hours to 5 hours • ABSITE is no longer accepted as an assessment site • Confidentiality issues • Mailing raised timing concerns / issues • Email not appropriate

14. Assessment Taking Tips • Assessment is not to be taken lightly if certification is to mean anything • This is a mark of your professionalism, treat it as such • Glibness and superficial answers are neither appropriate nor acceptable • Read, read, read • Organize, organize, organize • Familiarize yourself with documents

15. Assessment Taking Tips • Writing on your documents and assessment tool is permissible and encouraged during the monitored assessment time • Keep the answer sheet free of extraneous markings

16. Assessment Taking Tips • Suggestions for organization of documents: • Put all outline marks on each page • Answer questions in your documents with question number, then transfer citation to answer sheet • Use highlighter on documents

17. Current Surgery • Subscription for coordinators • Started with January/February 2006 issue • Program Coordinator’s Corner

18. Current Surgery • Program Coordinator’s Corner • A feature of every issue • An opportunity for coordinators to write and publish • Degree not required • All general surgery coordinators are eligible to contribute • Topics are not limited – concepts and ideas; “how to”; research • Instructions for authors offers guidelines and structural requirements

19. Current Surgery • Program Coordinators’ Editorial Board • 6 members: Ellie Gray, Ava Fulbright, Julie Gully, Machell Thompson, Gretchen Schultz, Ruth Nawotniak (expand to 8 in the future)

20. Current Surgery • Process • Each article submitted is reviewed by 3 reviewers / comments and suggestions given • Completed article sent to Dr. Weigelt for his review and editing • Finished article submitted to Current Surgery • Edited article returned for review • Notification of acceptance and publish date

21. Professional Benchmark • With inclusion in journal brings kudos and responsibility • Kudos – acknowledged for ability and value • Responsibility – each journal needs to have an article • Ultimately - Reflection upon coordinators and, by association, ARCS

22. Sometimes you get what you ask for