ABMS Multi-Specialty Portfolio Approval Program Adds The Ohio Chapter, American Academy Of Pediatrics

CHICAGO, Nov. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) today announced that the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Ohio AAP) has joined ABMS' Multi-Specialty Portfolio Approval Program™ (Portfolio Program).  Ohio AAP members who are Board Certified by one of 20 of the 24 ABMS Member Boards participating in the Portfolio Program may now receive maintenance of certification (MOC) credit for engagement in one of the Chapter's eight "Learning Collaboratives" or quality improvement (QI) initiatives, all of which provide physicians the tools and resources to better serve Ohio families.

"This designation shows the commitment the Ohio AAP has made to supporting Chapter members in achieving their education and certification needs," said Melissa Wervey Arnold, CEO, Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics. "It also strengthens the Chapter's role in encouraging providers to measure outcomes and actual patient results."

Founded in the mid-1950s, the Ohio AAP is dedicated to promoting the health, safety and well-being of children and adolescents throughout the State. The Chapter currently represents approximately 2,900 pediatricians, pediatric medical specialists, pediatric surgical specialists and physicians training in Ohio.  QI programs and initiatives adopted by the chapter and its members focus on advocacy, child health and the practice of pediatrics including the following eight key "Learning Collaborative" programs:

• Building Mental Wellness
• Chapter Quality Network Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Education and Sleep Environment Hospitalist Safe Sleep
• Good4Growth
• Injury Prevention/Safe Sleep
• Parenting at Mealtime and Playtime
• Preschool Vision Screening
• Transforming Adolescent Care

"ABMS and its 24 Member Boards are committed to creating MOC programming and processes that are relevant and meaningful to physicians, while at the same time, meeting rigorous standards necessary for maintenance of Board Certification," said Lois Margaret Nora, MD, JD, MBA, ABMS President and Chief Executive Officer. "Through our Portfolio Program, the Ohio AAP can now offer its Chapter members the opportunity to earn MOC credit for their participation in a wide variety of QI and patient safety programs that have a direct impact on improving the lives of their patients and families."

"The QI initiatives and patient safety programs created by the Ohio AAP impact physician practice both in a hospital as well as a community or private practice setting," said David W. Price, MD, FAAFP, FACEHP, Executive Director of the Portfolio Program. "The Portfolio Program encourages participation and recognizes meaningful physician engagement in these efforts with MOC credit. And, by offering credits through a continuum of 20 participating Member Boards, Ohio Board Certified physicians can receive MOC credit across specialty and sub-specialty practice areas, further encouraging their engagement in these important activities."

"The Ohio AAP has worked to build quality improvement programs that are far reaching. We offer programs which are attractive to everyone from the small, one pediatrician practice, to large practices with multiple offices and who may be affiliated with local hospitals. By reaching out to all providers, we have been able to create true learning collaboratives that allow providers to learn and network from each other," said Andrew Garner, MD, PhD, FAAP, President, Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics

To date, the Portfolio Program has helped engage more than 6,500 physicians in practice improvement initiatives at hospitals and health systems across the country (many showing improvement in care outcomes) and has recognized their participation with MOC-eligible credit. Since its inception, more than 8,000 QI efforts have been completed by Portfolio Program participants. For more information about participation in the Portfolio Program, visit the program website at http://mocportfolioprogram.org/become-a-portfolio-sponsor/.

About ABMS 
Established in 1933, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) continues to be the leading not-for-profit organization overseeing physician certification in the United States. ABMS establishes the standards its 24 Member Boards use to develop and implement educational and professional evaluation, assessment, and certification of physician specialists. More than 840,000 physicians are certified in one or more of the 150 specialties and subspecialties offered by the ABMS Member Boards.  For more information about ABMS, visit www.abms.org or call (312) 436-2600.

About the Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
The Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Ohio AAP) promotes the health, safety and well-being of children and adolescents so they may reach their full potential. The Ohio AAP works to accomplish this by addressing the needs of children, their families, and their communities, and by supporting Chapter members through advocacy, education, research, service, and improving the systems through which they deliver pediatric care. 

SOURCE American Board of Medical Specialties

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http://www.abms.org