ConCert time

[dchristismi]

Ug.
I go tomorrow. Mostly just want to get the damned thing over with. I know there are others doing the same, so good luck guys.

I ended up doing about 1000 Rosh questions, but was mostly on the treadmill, so it's not like I spent much time I was going to use for something else.

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[southerndoc]

Good luck! I'm going to take it in spring. Started to do it this year (I expire 12/2019), but decided to take advantage of that one time offering for Spring 2019.

 

[miacomet]

Me too! Tomorrow! Afternoon session. I found Rosh to be really, really hard (did I ever know any of this?) and also took the Vegas class. I admit, I'm worried. There's a lot I didn't realize I had to know, and feel I never knew, and probably don't know now.

Best of luck to all....

 

[bravotwozero]

ok, so I am now confused. Is ABEM doing away with the 10 year recert, or only in the process/prelim stages right now? Or are both options on the table?

 

[dchristismi]

The other option isn't really an option for another year or two. Too late for me, as mine expires in Dec 2019.
There's a spring ConCert next year in addition to the fall, and I think the alternate version won't be in place until 2020. Apparently even then you'll have your choice. At least, that's how I read it.

I thought Rosh was well written and some of the questions really challenging... to the point that most of the acid-base complexities I have elected to wing. I look all that up anyway, so I'm not going to relearn Winter's formula. (But did I ever really know it, or just plug it into my Palm Pilot? Even then I had a peripheral brain, although perhaps I wasn't as dependent on it then?) Of course, when they throw the same perilunate dislocation photo at you 3 times in a 50 question test, well, you had better believe that I've got that one down.

Good luck, M. We've got this.

 

[RustedFox]

The other option isn't really an option for another year or two. Too late for me, as mine expires in Dec 2019.
There's a spring ConCert next year in addition to the fall, and I think the alternate version won't be in place until 2020. Apparently even then you'll have your choice. At least, that's how I read it.

I thought Rosh was well written and some of the questions really challenging... to the point that most of the acid-base complexities I have elected to wing. I look all that up anyway, so I'm not going to relearn Winter's formula. (But did I ever really know it, or just plug it into my Palm Pilot? Even then I had a peripheral brain, although perhaps I wasn't as dependent on it then?) Of course, when they throw the same perilunate dislocation photo at you 3 times in a 50 question test, well, you had better believe that I've got that one down.

Good luck, M. We've got this.

Palm... Pilot....

 

[Birdstrike]

Ug.
I go tomorrow. Mostly just want to get the damned thing over with. I know there are others doing the same, so good luck guys.

I ended up doing about 1000 Rosh questions, but was mostly on the treadmill, so it's not like I spent much time I was going to use for something else.

Good luck! You will pass!

 

[dchristismi]

Well, it wasn't as bad as I was afraid it would be. More straightforward, and the only math was easily done in my head. (Suck it Winter's formula!)

But... staring at that screen for 4+ hours I realized that my eyes aren't as young as they used to be... Took a bit for my accommodation to come back. (Which usually only happens when I read for hours like on a long flight and it's a really good book.) Yep, I feel old.

And I imagine that will be the last one for me. I don't have another 10 years in the pit, which is why I'm taking the subspecialty plunge. The main question now is if I keep my FACEP or just stick with AAEM... I do both for now, but aside from the 4 days of fun that is ACEP, it's getting harder to justify...

 

[miacomet]

Mine was really, really tough. I will be lucky to pass. Lots of minutiae.

 

[bravotwozero]

Well, it wasn't as bad as I was afraid it would be. More straightforward, and the only math was easily done in my head. (Suck it Winter's formula!)

But... staring at that screen for 4+ hours I realized that my eyes aren't as young as they used to be... Took a bit for my accommodation to come back. (Which usually only happens when I read for hours like on a long flight and it's a really good book.) Yep, I feel old.

And I imagine that will be the last one for me. I don't have another 10 years in the pit, which is why I'm taking the subspecialty plunge. The main question now is if I keep my FACEP or just stick with AAEM... I do both for now, but aside from the 4 days of fun that is ACEP, it's getting harder to justify...

Congrats and I hope you pass.

That said, stick with AAEM, the one organization that is not in the pocket of the CMGs and actually represents your interests, unless you are a regular attendee at ACEP, and your employer doesn’t pay for cme.


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[miacomet]

Like, what happens if I fail?

 

[dchristismi]

You won't be the first. Apparently ABIM (According to Dr Wes, the anti-MOC cardiologist) gave at least someone an additional year. I couldn't find anything on ABEM's policies, probably because they have a policy, they just don't want to advertise it so people don't blow off the exam (just my guess.) But... what's the worst thing that could happen? I mean, seriously? I had a BOM complaint a couple of years ago, and ultimately realized that the worst thing I could think of was that I'd lose my license and have to go do something else outside of medicine altogether. Which, in my crispy-burned-out mindset, wasn't ultimately that bad. And nothing came of it. This is one of the principles of stoicism I find incredibly helpful - negative visualization is pretty powerful. And if I don't pass, well, I probably retake it, but maybe I gracefully retire from "general EM" at the end of 2019 and just do hospice. But I digress.

But you probably passed.
I do agree with you that there was a lot of minutiae, and it's not really the kind of test you can study for per se. I mean, sure, you can brush up on perilunate dislocations but there is SO MUCH to EM, that I honestly think there were only a handful that I knew due to Rosh.

Have faith,
D

 

[miacomet]

Here's what happens: https://www.abem.org/public/docs/de...oncert-alternatives-faqs_6-4-18.pdf?sfvrsn=20

Seriously, my exam was really, really hard, and the three or four people I spoke to felt the same. I sadly need to work a few more years, so it will be a big deal for me. I've never had a problem with exams, but this was terrible. I don't even know if I could have prepared better- it was all insane minutiae.

Well, guess I will hope it's easier in March.

 

[bravotwozero]

Like, what happens if I fail?

You will go through a de-boarding ceremony. You’ll get spanked by your boss in front of everybody, and be forced to work 24 hour shifts in a FSED for the rest of your career...






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[miacomet]

Anything to not have to take that exam again. Anything.

 

[dchristismi]

Well, got the email that results were on the ABEM website today. (It still seems annoying that a computerized test takes 6 weeks to score, but whatever...at least it wasn’t 12 weeks, I guess.)

Regardless, I passed and am very glad that annoying hoop is over.
Hoping to hear the same from my colleagues...

 

[gamerEMdoc]

Was way easier than I expected. Took it a year early just so I didn't feel the pressure to study. I went in completely blind, not a single video or practice question. Was also a little hungover from a golf outing the previous day. Nearly aced the thing. It was MUCH easier than I expected it to be, I would encourage anyone recerting to never waste time studying for this test, just take it a year early that way you have the ability to study the next year if for some reason you'd actually fail. Any time spent studying is a waste of your valuable time IMO.

 

[miacomet]

I passed, comfortably, but I still say it was a crazy, irrelevant, and arcane test. GLAD I NEVER HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN. I feel better.

 

[WilcoWorld]

Congrats on passing. I was planning to go in cold, but after paying the $1850 I decided to do some questions, mainly to treat my own anxiety.

 

[Arcan57]

Also passed. Shockingly poor method of evaluating the needed skills to practice EM.

 

[WilcoWorld]

Also passed. Shockingly poor method of evaluating the needed skills to practice EM.

I don't disagree. What would you suggest as an alternative?

 

[Arcan57]

I don't disagree. What would you suggest as an alternative?

We work up and manage patients in parallel, not series. I would propose a test that more mimics the oral boards where there is a range options available and critical actions that must be hit. I would suggest that non life threatening derm not show up and that questions consist of more than a rhythm strip and a 7 word stem as the question. The technology exists, and it’s stupid that we’re spending the time and money to deal with a test that feels like it was cribbed off of other specialties’ in-service exams.

 

[bravotwozero]

Hopefully when it’s time for me to recert in 2026, we’ll be done with closed book exams..


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[miacomet]

I would propose not having a test at all until there is evidence it improves outcomes. Don't drink the Kool-Aid, kids.