Interventional Cardiology

The links below outline the details of the Certification and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) programs in Interventional Cardiology.

Certification

At the time of application for certification in Interventional Cardiology, you must hold current, valid ABIM certification in Cardiovascular Disease.

• Policies and Requirements
• Cost
• Interventional Cardiology Exam Dates and Content
• Scheduling a Interventional Cardiology Exam
• Interventional Cardiology Exam Tutorial

Maintenance of Certification

You must hold current, valid ABIM certification in Cardiovascular Disease to renew certification in Interventional Cardiology.

Procedural Requirement

Interventional cardiologists must submit a Form Attesting Interventional Cardiology Practice, verifying their performance as primary operator, co-operator or supervisor of 150 percutaneous coronary interventional (PCI) cases in the two years prior to expiration of their certificate. If interventional cardiologists are unable to meet this requirement, they may provide a procedural log of 25 consecutive cases, including outcomes, in which they have served as primary operator.

• The documentation period for certificates expiring December 31, 2011 may start no earlier than July 1, 2009 and end no later than October 1, 2011.
• The form also requires verification of participation in a PCI quality improvement project.
• If you fulfill the 150 PCI-case procedural requirement for recertification in Interventional Cardiology prior to the close of the documentation period, you do not need to wait to submit your attestation form. ABIM recommends that you submit your attestation form once you fulfill the 150 PCI-case procedural requirement, rather than wait to document all procedures performed during the two-year documentation period.

• Additional Requirements
• Enrollment and Cost
• Interventional Cardiology Exam Dates and Content
• Scheduling a Interventional Cardiology Exam
• Interventional Cardiology Exam Tutorial

MOC Guide for Interventional Cardiologists (pdf) (as of March 31, 2011)

Begin working on your self-evaluation requirements as soon as you enroll in MOC:

Self-Evaluation of Medical Knowledge

Recommended modules:

• Interventional Cardiology Medical Knowledge Modules
• Interventional Cardiology Simulations*
• Care for the Underserved Module
• Point-of-Care Clinical Question Module

Learning Sessions are an interesting and collaborative way to earn points.

* Research shows simulations are a successful tool in the assessment of physician performance.

Self-Evaluation of Practice Performance

Recommended ABIM PIMs Practice Improvement Modules^®:

• Clinical Supervision PIM
• Communication - Subspecialists PIM
• Communication with Referring Physicians PIM
• Completed Project PIM
• Hypertension PIM
• Preventive Cardiology PIM
• Self-Directed PIM

View the PIM tutorial

The Approved Quality Improvement (AQI) pathway grants physicians 20 MOC points for participating in externally developed QI activities.

Recommended AQI Pathway options*:

• ACC: A New ERA – Evidence-Based Stroke Reduction in Atrial Fibrillation
• ACC: Keeping PACE – Patient-Centered Acute Coronary Syndrome Care Education
• ACC: Imaging in FOCUS (Formation of Optimal Cardiovascular Imaging Utilization Strategies) Performance Improvement Activity (PIA)
• CS2day (Cease Smoking Today) Online Performance Improvement Tool
• Joslin Diabetes Center: Development of Office-based Systems of Care: Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome
• Southern California Permanente Medical Group (SCPMG) Continuous Quality Improvement Program

* Additional AQI activities may be available to you.

Use our Practice Performance Selector Tool to find the best option for you.