Options for Earning Points
Physicians maintaining their certification are required to participate in a quality improvement (QI) effort to complete a minimum of 20 practice performance points.
There are a variety of ways for physicians to earn these points:
- Physicians working in an out-patient setting
- Physicians working in an in-patient setting
- Physicians with access to aggregate quality data
- Physicians who supervise residents and/or fellows
- Physicians doing Approved Quality Improvement (AQI) Programs & Products
- Physicians who are clinically inactive
Physicians working in an out-patient setting
ABIM PIMs Practice Improvement Modulessm are web-based tools that guide physicians through the collection of patient data to identify gaps in care and ultimately implement a quality improvement plan for their practice.
Find information, demonstrations and order details for each PIM:
- See what additional benefits you may be eligible for upon completion of a PIM.
- Read practical advice about PIMs from fellow physicians.
Physicians working in an in-patient setting
The Hospital-Based PIM specifically addresses the care of patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (Acute MI), Heart Failure, Community-Acquired Pneumonia or Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia.
- See a demo of the Hospital-Based Patient Care PIM.
Physicians with access to aggregate quality data
The Self-Directed PIM allows physicians who are currently working on or have completed quality improvement project to use performance data from an approved external source in a PIM.
- Get a list of approved data sources.
- See a demo of the Self-Directed PIM.
Physicians who supervise residents and/or fellows
The Clinical Supervision PIM was created for faculty to evaluate their competency and performance in practice, provide feedback on their supervisory skills and get their residents involved in quality improvement.
- See additional options for physicians who supervise trainees.
- See a demo of the Clinical Supervision PIM (.pdf)
Physicians doing Approved Quality Improvement (AQI) programs & products
If you have completed an AQI program or product developed by another organization, you may be eligible for MOC points from ABIM.
- See a complete list of AQI programs & products
Physicians who are clinically inactive
The Essentials of Quality Improvement (EQI) module offers clinically inactive physicians a way to complete a quality improvement activity through the assessment of their knowledge of current quality improvement principles.
