The American College of Physicians (ACP) expressed concern about the CCIM credential, saying it would burden physicians and hurt primary care outreach efforts. “CCIM may pose another burdensome hoop that adds time, expense, and limited value, leading to fewer students choosing careers in, and fewer physicians practicing, office-based internal medicine,” wrote ACP in a review of the proposal. More work will be necessary before the larger medical community will accept the CCIM credential.

Meanwhile, the ABIM continues to move forward with the RFP in hospital medicine. For example, Jeff Wiese, MD, professor of medicine at Tulane University in New Orleans and member of SHM’s Board of Directors, became chair of the hospital medicine MOC examination committee, which aims to add hospital medicine-specific elements to the MOC process. If this rapid pace continues, it is realistic to expect examinees to sit for the first tests in 2010.

In the past, Dr. Wachter has raised important questions about this RFP. Will anybody choose to get certified in hospital medicine? What effect will it have on primary care? How will the market value this certification? Will certified hospitalists get paid more? What will happen to those who aren’t certified? Is this the start of a separate specialty with separate training?

I believe when the time comes, hospitalists will choose to get certified. They will view this as a way to distinguish themselves from physicians who work as hospitalists for one to two years between residency and fellowship. Right now, job opportunities for hospitalists abound, but at some point the market will become saturated. The more saturated the market, the greater the value of hospitalist certification. Employers will use this RFP to separate qualified candidates. I also believe it will prevent the remaining primary care physicians from providing care in the hospital. Without additional external funding, however, I doubt this will lead to separate hospitalist training. TH