Request for an American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine denied—cardiology groups ‘deeply disappointed’
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has denied a request put forth by several leading U.S. cardiovascular health societies to launch a new American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine. The proposed board would have been completely independent of the American Board of Internal Medicine and managed the certification and recertification processes for U.S. cardiologists and other cardiovascular care specialists.
The American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) all collaborated on the proposal, noting that cardiovascular medicine has evolved over time and established itself as a one-of-a-kind healthcare specialty.
“We are deeply disappointed with the ABMS decision not to approve the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine as a new, independent board for cardiology,” Jeffrey Kuvin, MD, chair of the proposed board, said in a statement. “The decision ignores the evolution of cardiovascular medicine into its own distinct medical specialty, separate from the field of internal medicine, requiring its own set of knowledge, skills, and competencies to sustain professional excellence and effectively care for cardiovascular patients. In addition, the decision does not acknowledge fundamental change in how clinicians learn information and demonstrate skills throughout their careers.”
For now, Kuvin says the group is still exploring potential next steps. In the meantime, he hopes ABMS will consider the feedback of ACC, AHA, HFSA, HRS and SCAI when making policy decisions going forward.
“We are overdue on rethinking the current approach to assessment and maintenance of competency and look forward to continuing to find new ways to ensure continuous cardiovascular clinical competence in a manner that meets the best interests of cardiovascular physicians and patients alike,” he added.
SCAI released a statement of its own about the denial.
“ABMS had an opportunity to support a forward-thinking, evidence-based certification model that aligns with how cardiovascular specialists train, practice, and maintain their skills today. Instead, they have chosen to uphold an outdated system that does not reflect the realities of our profession or the needs of our patients,” said SCAI President James B. Hermiller, MD. “While this decision is unfortunate and short-sighted, it is not the end of the discussion. We remain committed to exploring all options to ensure a fair, relevant, and economical certification pathway for the interventional and cardiovascular communities.”
Click here and here for two in-depth interviews from some of the cardiologists working hard to make the American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine a reality.
ABMS told Cardiovascular Business the group does not comment on these decisions.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.