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Philadelphia, PA, March 11, 2015 – A recent article posted to the Newsweek website regarding the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) contains numerous and serious misstatements, selective omissions, inaccurate information and erroneous reporting.

The author asserts that ABIM has made the exams that physicians periodically take to maintain their certification harder in hopes of failing more physicians, who then must re-take the test and pay more fees to ABIM. This is untrue and not supported by data. The author says pass rates are steadily declining, but in fact they rise and fall over the years and vary across disciplines. In total, 96% of physicians who ABIM certifies passed an exam to maintain their certification.

The author asserts that ABIM has a monopoly on certifying internists, but in reality, internists have a choice among certifying boards that certify physicians in internal medicine and its subspecialties.

The author also presents an untrue and misleading interpretation of information from ABIM and ABIM Foundation's tax returns. His reporting reflects a poor understanding of that information and a highly selective presentation of information designed to prove his faulty premises.

Finally, the author failed to disclose that his wife is an internist.

ABIM recognizes serious challenges in developing a relevant, meaningful Maintenance of Certification program that identifies physicians whose knowledge has been reassessed and who have shown that they have kept up to date with evolving medical information. That is why, last month, we announced immediate changes to the requirements for maintaining certification and the way ABIM works. We are sincere in our desire to work openly with the internal medicine community to rethink the ways in which ABIM serves physicians and the public.

Taking care of patients is a significant privilege and serious responsibility. With knowledge, science and the practice of medicine changing so rapidly, it is hard for busy doctors to keep up. Achieving initial board certification and maintaining it provides physicians with a structured framework for continuing learning, and benefits the patients they serve.

For media inquiries, contact press@abim.org.

ABIM Board Certified Doctors Make a Difference

Internists and subspecialists who earn and maintain board certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) differentiate themselves every day through their specialized knowledge and commitment to continual learning in service of their patients. Established as an independent nonprofit more than 80 years ago, ABIM continues to be driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world. Visit ABIM's blog to learn more and follow ABIM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. ABIM is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties.