Since its establishment in 1979, the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) has been a trailblazer dedicated to maintaining top standards in Emergency Medicine. With over 44,000 board-certified Emergency Medicine physicians and approximately 150 million annual visits to emergency departments in the United States, it is crucial to ensure that ABEM-certified emergency physicians remain at the forefront of medical knowledge.
Historically, ABEM faced challenges in the certification and recertification processes. Physicians had to endure lengthy exams held in external testing centers, causing disruptions to their daily routines. Moreover, these examinations sometimes felt disconnected from the realities of day-to-day medical practice. In 2016, ABEM initiated the vision for MyEMCert, a transformational technology solution aimed at revolutionizing the certification experience for Emergency Medicine physicians.
Recognizing the importance of a smooth and effective transition, ABEM first decided to launch a pilot program with 1,500 physicians. This pilot was an important milestone in assessing the viability and impact of MyEMCert and the response was overwhelmingly positive, with physicians praising the flexibility and convenience offered by the new certification process.
In 2021, MyEMCert was officially launched, introducing eight comprehensive Emergency Medicine modules, aiming to streamline the certification process and provide physicians with a more efficient, accessible, and engaging experience.
AJ Wolf
Marketing Manager, ABEM
MyEMCert offers topic-specific self-paced modules encompassing relevant subjects in Emergency Medicine. After each module, they receive immediate feedback, including pass/fail results, correct answers, and detailed rationales, creating a comprehensive learning experience.
This user-friendly and flexible approach eliminates the need for grueling five-hour exams every ten years, as the modules are conveniently completed online. To maintain ABEM certification, physicians must pass four modules every five years, promoting lifelong learning and staying current with knowledge advancements.
The remarkable outcomes of MyEMCert demonstrate its effectiveness and ABEM's commitment to advancing certification in Emergency Medicine. By 2022, ABEM phased out in-person continuing certification exams, further streamlining the certification process and embracing digital accessibility. Early in 2023, the first two modules were launched for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) subspecialty continuing certification, ushering
in the era of "MyEMSCert" and expanding assessment opportunities.
Michele Miller
Associate Executive Director, Systems & Technology, ABEM
MyEMCert's success led to:
ABEM remains committed to setting high standards in Emergency Medicine and health care certification. They will be introducing new certifications and programs soon, such as MyToxCert (for Medical Toxicology subspecialty continuing certification), to ensure their physicians have the latest knowledge and expertise.
The transformation brought about by ABEM’s partnership with BenchPrep and the creation of MyEMCert has redefined certification standards in the health care sector. MyEMCert stands as a testament to the potential of technology in making certification efficient, accessible, and engaging.
Don’t let the power of transformation hold you back–by embracing a similar approach, organizations can take the next step and join the ranks of innovators shaping the future of certification.
It overall was a really, really positive experience... I never ever thought I would say that. But I actually enjoyed going through the process of rectifying.
M.D. from Boston, MA
The immediate feedback was awesome. Taking the test in this format was very educational. The answer descriptions, whether I got the answer right or wrong were extremely helpful. This format is much superior to the old exam taken every 10 years which did not provide real feedback or educational value. ABEM hit a home run with this one.”
Anonymous M.D.
I certainly was surprised with the amount of information that I could bring back to practice just from looking through [modules] it.
M.D. from Arlington Heights, IL
It overall was a really, really positive experience... I never ever thought I would say that. But I actually enjoyed going through the process of rectifying.
M.D. from Boston, MA
The immediate feedback was awesome. Taking the test in this format was very educational. The answer descriptions, whether I got the answer right or wrong were extremely helpful. This format is much superior to the old exam taken every 10 years which did not provide real feedback or educational value. ABEM hit a home run with this one.”
Anonymous M.D.
I certainly was surprised with the amount of information that I could bring back to practice just from looking through [modules] it.
M.D. from Arlington Heights, IL
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