The American Board of Ophthalmology’s Quarterly Questions program is both a learning activity and a longitudinal assessment tool that serves as the heart of the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process. As of 2019, the Quarterly Questions program officially replaces the DOCK Examination.
Available online, on-demand, and completed at your own pace, the Quarterly Questions program invites participants to answer clinical practice-related knowledge questions and enhance ophthalmic knowledge using a curated list of “must-read” articles from recent peer-reviewed literature. Full program details are available here: https://abop.org/QQ
Participants in the 2017 and 2018 versions of the program reported a positive experience – 9 out of 10 participants would recommend the program to a colleague, according to program surveys. Diplomates also reported that the content was relevant to their practice, appropriately challenging, and included useful information that helped them expand their clinical knowledge and improve patient care.
With the launch of the 2019 program, participating in Quarterly Questions becomes even more valuable, offering 4 substantial MOC benefits in return for participation.
Benefit #1: Satisfy the Assessment Requirement Without Taking an Examination
At your own pace, using any device, you can complete the Quarterly Questions program without traveling to a test center. The new longitudinal-style program is the only MOC Part III knowledge assessment you’ll need to complete during your 10-year activity cycle.
Benefit #2: Earn CME to Apply Towards the Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment Requirement
Thanks to a collaboration with the American Academy of Ophthalmology, participants in the 2019 ABO Quarterly Questions program may claim up to 8 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. These credits also qualify as self-assessment credits for MOC Part II. The 2017 and 2018 version of the program, which are still available, carry up to 7.5 credits. In addition to including these credits in your CME totals for MOC, be sure to list them in your credit total when it’s time to renew your state medical license(s).
Benefit #3: Meet the Patient Safety Requirement Using Designated Articles
Within the 2019 Quarterly Questions activity, you will answer 10 questions based on 5 articles of your choice from a curated list of recent “must-read” articles. A new category of articles has been added, marked “Patient Safety.” Reading 3 articles with this designation and answering 2 questions per article will satisfy the Patient Safety requirement under MOC Part II. You may read these articles all in the same year or space them out over 3 years of your participation.
Benefit #4: Receive Improvement in Medical Practice Credit Through Designated Articles
Similarly, within the 2019 program, there is a new article category for “Quality Improvement.” Reading 3 articles with this designation and answering 2 questions per article will count as 1 improvement activity under MOC Part IV. You may read these articles all in the same year or space them out over 3 years of your participation.
Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and The American Board of Ophthalmology. The American Academy of Ophthalmology is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology designates this enduring material for a maximum of 8 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.