News

The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) recently contributed its insight to develop and publish “Opportunities for Integrating MOC Part IV Requirements into PBRN Practices” (PDF). This resource helps organizations support their clinicians engaging in quality and practice improvement through principles, approaches and strategies.

The field guide, published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), aims to facilitate a more aligned approach to quality improvement efforts as…

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In 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) started the Pediatrician Life and Career Experience Study (PLACES). On July 27, Pediatrics, the official journal of the AAP, published "A Longitudinal Study of Pediatricians in Their Careers: PLACES" online. The study "tracks the personal and professional experiences of early career pediatricians." Laurel K. Leslie, MD, MPH, Vice President for Research at the American Board of Pediatrics, is a co-author along with other national leaders in pediatrics.

Visit…

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For many years, Dr. Susan Grace Wolff volunteered her time and expertise to the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP). She served as a Subboard Representative on the Board of Directors, was chair of the Cardiogology Subboard, and was a consultant to the Cardiology Subboard.

Dr. Wolff passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her family, on Saturday, July 16, 2015.

A native of Rome, NY, Dr. Wolff received her bachelor’s degree from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY, and her MD from Marquette University…

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Two recent papers addressing children’s behavioral and mental health needs across the U.S. have just been published by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), formerly the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The two papers, titled "A Challenge to Unleash the Power of Prevention" and "Unleashing the Power of Prevention," are available online as part of the "NAM Perspectives" series. They do not require a password. Laurel…

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The Future of Testing Conference (FOTC) was held May 15 - 16, 2015 in Chapel Hill, NC. The participants included a number of practitioners and leading experts in the field of testing and medical education. Discussion topics included:

  • The use of test centers,
  • Access to electronic searchable resources,
  • Alternative testing methods,
  • And more.

FOTC materials, including the agenda, speaker presentations, session summaries, and videos, are available on our website.

The American Board of Pediatrics recently co-sponsored the Forum on Organizational Quality Improvement, along with The Multi-Specialty Portfolio Approval Program and the American Board of Medical Specialties.

The event was held May 13, 2015, in Rosemont, IL, and showcased initiatives within the ABMS Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Multi-Specialty Portfolio Approval Program. This particular pathway allows physicians to submit QI projects through their institutions for MOC credit approval. Discussions centered around leadership concepts, best practices by Portfolio Program sponsors, and successes and obstacles faced by participants.

Read more about the physicians’…

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Because the use of quality improvement (QI) methods and safety principles can improve child health outcomes and reduce harm, more training programs must be developed, along with more academic recognition and promotion for successful QI activities, according to a commentary published in the June 2015 issue of Pediatrics.

In it, ABP Vice President Virginia A. Moyer, MD, MPH, and colleagues Carole M. Lannon, MD, MPH, ABP Senior Quality Advisor, and Fiona H. Levy, MD, MBA, conclude that QI capability and capacity must be increased with an integrated approach that connects children’s hospitals and their academic partners. This will need to focus on engaging and developing faculty as…

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Obesity has increased dramatically in recent decades, but “who wants to deal with the fallout of telling an adolescent girl that she’s overweight?” asks Brad Weselman, MD.

However, studies show that obese children are more likely than those of normal weight to grow into obese adults. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta consulted with Dr. Weselman, Stephanie Walsh, MD, and other physicians in Atlanta in the development of a provider training program to increase physicians’ confidence and effectiveness in counseling children and their caregivers about healthy weight.

The provider training program, which is just one element of…

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Although Dr. Calvin J. Sia earned a permanent certificate in 1960, he chose to maintain his certification throughout his clinical career. He last recertified in 1987 before transitioning into retirement.

Hawaii primary care pediatrician Calvin J. Sia, MD, FAAP, is considered “the grandfather” of the medical home concept of care for children, which provides patients a personal general pediatrician who will monitor and coordinate care, even to outside subspecialists and other treatment facilities.

He has worked for decades to develop medical home models for practice in Hawaii, the United States and throughout the world, even chairing the American Academy of Pediatrics…

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The patient in Dr. Shelly Voet’s examining room was at risk for diabetes: She was obese. Her grandfather had diabetes. Her blood sugar and insulin levels were elevated.

“She was pre-diabetic,” Dr. Voet says. “And obesity is a hard topic to talk about.”

But Dr. Voet knew how to counsel this patient and her family. Her practice, Pediatric Associates in Crestview Hills, Ky., had developed plans for counseling overweight and obese patients as part of their process for earning recognition as an NCQA Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH).

Now, all pediatricians who can attest that they have participated in quality improvement…

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