MD Whistleblower

Photo Credit Two Thursdays ago, I took the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) recertification examination in gastroenterology (GI).    Whistleblower readers have already digested some of my musings on this event.   The good news is that there was no penalty for incorrect answers.   The bad news is that I submitted many incorrect answers.   Every one of these standardized tests that we all take becomes a mind game, where the examinee (us) tries to penetrate the psyche of the test makers (them).   We’ve all been there.    We torture ourselves between what we think is the right answer, and what we think that the questioners think is the right answer.    Sometimes, I thought that the ‘correct’ answer on the list is out of date, which confused me.   Or, what I felt was the truly correct answer, wasn’t included in the answer choices.   For example, I am a very conservative practitioner, who often advises observation, rather ...

Photo Credit This coming Thursday, I will have the joy and pleasure of taking the gastroenterology (GI) board recertification exam.    There will be many entertaining elements to the experience, as other board certified physicians already know.   Although there will be many fun delights, some will clearly be more amusing than others. Which of the following features of the GI board examination will be most fun?   While more than one answer may be correct, choose the best answer . (1)     A 490 minute all day exam is a thrill, by definition (2)     Losing a day of income (3)     Paying the American   Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) $1200 (4)     Pleasing my partners who will cover my practice (5)     Having my palm vein recognition scan to verify my identity every time I reenter the room During this exam, each giddy examinee will be provided with a computer station.   I am nostalg...

My patients have the confidence of knowing that I am a board certified gastroenterologist (GI). I haven’t disclosed this to them personally, but somehow resourceful and curious patients can now find out facts about me that heretofore would have required a government warrant. (In fact, for my entire medical career, I have never displayed a diploma or any professional certificate in my office, which annoys my mom.) Now, with a few keystrokes, patients can read about my suspension from the fifth grade after making an unwelcome comment about another student. Being from the northeast, my initial reaction to this transgression was, “Will this be on my college record?” Assuming that I successfully recertify in gastroenterology in the coming year, I will enjoy this prestigious designation for another decade. I hope I that I am still practicing then, since the health care reformists have promised us a medical nirvana in in the coming years. It would be a shame if I retired just before the nirva...