This information is provided by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) to outline the rules, requirements, and procedures which have been established for recertification in thoracic surgery.

In 1973, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) recommended to its member boards that periodic recertification become an integral part of all national medical specialty certification programs.  The ABTS has always regarded as its primary purpose the protection of the public through the establishment and maintenance of standards for the specialty.  In order to achieve this objective the ABTS established training requirements, qualifications for examination, and procedures for certification and recertification.  These requirements and procedures are reviewed and modified periodically as necessary.  With the constructive intent of maintaining and advancing the standards of practice of thoracic surgery in the United States, the ABTS concluded in 1974 that its Diplomates should recertify.  The first time limited certificates of the ABTS were issued in 1976.

In September 1979, the ABMS approved the recertification proposal of the ABTS.

In April 1983, the ABTS determined that recertification should include:

The Board will forward the SESATS booklets to Diplomates after their applications for recertification have been accepted; therefore, it is not necessary for Diplomates to purchase or complete SESATS prior to making application for examination.

Diplomates certified in 1976 or after must recertify within ten years of the date of the original certification in order to maintain this status. Diplomates with time-limited certificates may recertify up to two years in advance of the expiration year of their ten-year certificate.  The recertification will be valid for ten years from the date of expiration of the previous certificate regardless of the year in which the Diplomate recertifies.

Recertification by the American Board of Surgery is not a prerequisite to becoming recertified in thoracic surgery.

Recertification applications are due in the Board office by May 10 of every year.  Following receipt of a completed application that should include all related documents, the ABTS will conduct an assessment of the Diplomate's credentials.  The ABTS will then notify the Diplomate if his/her recertification application has been approved and/or what additional steps must be taken to obtain approval.

Please address all communications to the William A. Gay, Jr., M.D., Executive Director, American Board of Thoracic Surgery, 633 North St. Clair Street, Suite 2320, Chicago, IL 60611.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Diplomates applying for recertification must meet the following requirements:

A. Diplomates must hold a valid certificate issued by the ABTS at the time of their application for recertification.

For those individuals who hold an invalid certificate, the only way to obtain a valid certificate is to take and pass the written and oral certifying examinations.

B. Diplomates must hold a currently valid license to practice medicine.

C. Diplomates must hold privileges to practice thoracic surgery in hospital(s) accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations or other hospital(s) judged acceptable by the ABTS.

EDUCATION
Each Diplomate applying for recertification must accumulate 70 hours of Category I, approved post-graduate medical education in general surgery or cardiothoracic surgery in the two years preceding the date of application. Credit will be allowed for medical educational activities in Category I, with some exceptions as noted below, as described in the instruction booklet for the Physician’s Recognition Award of the American Medical Association (AMA).

In 2001, the ABTS approved credits earned from The Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education-sponsored course, "Skills for the New World of Health Care."  This course has been provided by the Harvard Medical School and approved for up to 56 hours of Category I credit toward The Physician's Recognition Award of the AMA.

Category I CME includes programs such as the annual meetings and postgraduate thoracic surgical programs of the American College of Surgeons, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.  In order to meet the criteria for Category I CME the activity must (1) be sponsored or cosponsored by the ACCME or the AMA and (2) comply with the definition of a planned program of CME.  A planned program is one having sufficient scope and depth of coverage of a subject area or theme to form an educational unit that was planned, coordinated, administered, and evaluated in terms of educational objectives.  These objectives must provide a defined level of knowledge or specific performance skill to the physician participating in the program.  Under appropriate sponsorship these may include such activities as lecture series, grand rounds, teaching rounds, departmental scientific meetings, seminars, and workshops.  

Credit is not given for on-line courses, journal reading, medical teaching, preparation of teaching materials, publications, exhibits, presentation of papers, consultations, or patient care review.  Mortality and Morbidity conferences will be given a maximum of 12 hours of credit per year, and only if the institution has been approved to offer Category I credit for these conferences.  Category I credit for M&M conferences may be obtained from one institution only.  SESATS and SESAP are the only self-instructional materials allowed.  If you complete SESATS prior to the recertification process, you can claim the CME earned or submit your scores from the exam; however, you are not able to claim both for recertification.

No more than one-half of the required CME may be obtained in your own institution(s).

The Physicians Recognition Award for recertifying in general surgery is not acceptable in fulfillment of the ABTS CME credit requirement for recertification. Category II credits are not allowed.                          

OPERATIVE REVIEW
Diplomates will submit to the ABTS a practice review consisting of the most recent 100 consecutive major cases. The number of weeks during which these consecutive cases are accumulated should be stated.  If the operative experience is fewer than 100 major cases in the most recent year, the total experience for that year should be submitted.

The above listing will reflect the Diplomate’s experience at each hospital where the Diplomate holds surgical privileges.  Each list must be authenticated by either the Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Chief of Surgery, or the hospital Medical Director.  All cases included on the practice profile form must also be listed on the case list form.

All cases included on the form "The American Board of Thoracic Surgery Summary of Listed Cases-Recertification" must be listed in chronological order on "Form A, American Board of Thoracic Surgery-Recertification Form for listing operations performed by Diplomate."  List only major procedures.

If several procedures are performed on the patient, list that patient as only one case.

DOCUMENTATION
Diplomates should maintain precise records of continuing medical education activities in the two-year period prior to application for recertification. The Board expects the Diplomate to abide by the honor system when recording and submitting CME experience. The application forms will provide spaces for entering these credits in detailed fashion. Forms will also be provided for listing the detailed practice review in appropriate categories. These forms must be signed by the authenticating official as previously noted.

EXAMINATION
Candidates for recertification will be required to complete both the general thoracic and cardiac portions of the SESATS syllabus (Self-Education/Self Assessment in Thoracic Surgery).  The SESATS booklet will be forwarded to candidates when their application, including lists of CME credits and the practice review data, has been submitted and approved.  SESATS is available both in booklet form and on CD-ROM.

EXAMINATION RESULTS

The ABTS will issue a recertification certificate valid for ten years to Diplomates who have successfully completed the recertification process.

Any Diplomate is allowed to apply for recertification starting within two years of the year of expiration of his/her ten-year certificate.  The new certificate will be in force for ten years from the date of the expiration of the most recent certificate.

Diplomates are recertified in ten-year increments because the original certificate is valid for ten years.  Thus, no matter when you recertify, the "valid through" date on the newly-issued certificate will be ten years from the expiration date of the previous certificate.

INACTIVE STATUS

Diplomates holding valid ABTScertificates and who expect to be clinically inactive for a period of one year or more may apply for inactive status.  Learn more about this option.

Upon recertification of a Diplomate, the ABTS will supply pertinent data to the ABMS for publication in The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists and in their directory of certified thoracic surgeons. A Diplomate’s biographic entry will show recertification in thoracic surgery, as well as his/her original certification.

Applications are sent in January to all Diplomates eligible for recertification.  If you are eligible for recertification but have not yet received your application or materials, please contact the Board office or use the electronic application and forms found below.  The annual deadline for receipt of application from those seeking recertification is May 10.

Application          CME           Form A-Case List          Form B-Case Summary

An administrative fee of $50.00 will be charged if the application contains errors or omissions requiring a further processing or requests for further information. A $250 Late Fee will be charged to those Diplomates submitting an application postmarked after May 10.

After a recertification application has been approved, Diplomates have until September 30th to complete SESATS.  If SESATS is not completed by September 30, it will be necessary for a Diplomate to complete a new recertification application the next year and begin the process anew.  Neither the fee nor the application can be 'carried over' into the next year.

The recertification fee will remain $1,100.00 for 2005.  Diplomates must also be current with the Certification Maintenance fee in order to recertify.

No recertification certificate shall be issued and any recertification certificate may be revoked by the Board if it shall determine that:

1. the candidate for recertification did not possess the required qualifications and requirements for examination whether or not such deficiency was known to the Board or any Committee thereof prior to examination or at the time of the issuance of the certificate as the case may be,
   
   
2. the candidate for recertification made a material misstatement or withheld information in his/her application or or any other representation to the Board or any Committee thereof, whether intentional or unintentional,
   
   
3. the candidate for recertification was convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of any felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude and, in the opinion of the Board, having a material relationship to the practice of medicine, or
   
   
4. the candidate for recertification had his/her license to practice medicine revoked or was disciplined or censured by any court or other body having proper jurisdiction and authority because of any act or omission arising from the practice of medicine.

American Board of Thoracic Surgery
633 North St. Clair Street, Suite 2320
Chicago, IL 60611
Tel:  (312) 202-5900
info@abts.org