Activities on the American Board of Ophthalmology's Improvement in Medical Practice Menu for Continuing Certification are designed to encourage ongoing assessment and improvement of patient care. If your certificate expires on or after December 31, 2021, you will choose two activities from the menu below. The ABO recommends completion of both activities prior to Year 8 of your 10-year cycle.
| Improvement in Medical Practice Activity Menu |
| Option 1 |
Use the Quarterly Questions® Article Pathway |
| Time Commitment |
3-8 hours |
| Availability |
Online, on-demand via your Status Page |
| Description |
Increase the value of your Quarterly Questions participation when you use it to count as one Improvement in Medical Practice activity. To qualify, answer the 40 available knowledge questions for the year, then head to your Quarter 3 Article Library. Within your minimum of five article selections, choose the three articles labeled “Quality Improvement” and answer two questions about each article. This option is available from 2019 forward only. If you have already completed the DOCK Exam during your current cycle, you can skip the knowledge questions and move straight into the quality articles. The Quarterly Questions article pathway may be used as one improvement activity per cycle. |
| Option 2 |
Complete 1 of 11 Designated AAO CME Courses |
| Time Commitment |
Varies based on course |
| Availability |
Online through the American Academy of Ophthalmology |
| Description |
The AAO offers 11 online CME activity options which have been approved for Improvement in Medical Practice credit by the ABO. Completing any one of the following Academy activities will satisfy the ABO's requirement and provide you with the ability to claim CME. If you are an AAO member, access to these activities is included in the price of your membership. Current Academy activity options include: Anisometropic Amblyopia; Anti-VEGF Therapy in Patients with Neovascular AMD; Assessing Risk of Glaucoma Progression; Improving Outcomes in Cataract Surgery: Targeting Best Corrected Visual Acuity; Improving Outcomes in Cataract Surgery: Targeting Uncorrected Visual Acuity; Improving Vision after Retinal Detachment Repair; Laser and Injection Therapy in Patients with DME; Treatment of Uveitic Macular Edema; When to Change Glaucoma Therapy and Why Patients Might Fail; Building Best Practices for Informed Consent; and Choosing Wisely: Leading Patients to Recommended Care; Academy activities that count for ABO Continuing Certification credit can now be transferred directly to the ABO from your Academy CME Central page.
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| Option 3 |
Design a Self-Directed Project or Choose a Project Template |
| Time Commitment |
Typically several months |
| Availability |
Application accessible via your Status Page |
| Description |
Diplomates can access a list of pre-approved improvement project samples completed by their peers. Each self-directed activity is completed and submitted through the ABO Status Page. Diplomates can elect to satisfy one or both of their Improvement in Medical Practice requirements using a self-directed template. There are four different types of self-directed projects currently available:
- Amblyopia Project Template (Read more about this option.)
- COVID-19 Project (Samples)
- Group or Team-Based Project
- Standard Improvement in Medical Practice Project
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| Option 4 |
Join a Cross-Specialty Project at a Qualifying Institution |
| Time Commitment |
Varies |
| Availability |
At the discretion of your practicing institution |
| Description |
 A service provided through the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the ABMS Portfolio Program partners with large health care organizations to recognize the work physicians are already doing to improve their practices and the care of their patients. The ABO recommends diplomates choose organizational projects that relate to topics such as: medication errors and practice access issues; wrong site surgery/wrong choice surgery/inappropriate surgery; low vision-related safety issues; professionalism; or diagnostic errors. Participation is managed by a contact at your home institution. |
| If you are no longer engaged in direct patient care, you may be eligible to maintain your certification by declaring Clinically Inactive Status. |