Effective January 24, 2024, the American Board of Radiology discontinued the Self-Assessment-Continuing Medical Education (SA-CME) requirement for radiologists. This change signals the end of an era for the SA-CME, which served as a staple of radiology certification since its inception in 1994.
While regular continuing medical education (CME) credits remain unchanged, the ABR’s decision to phase out the SA-CME has generated both praise and criticism within the radiology community.
According to a letter from ABR President Dr. Robert Barr, most ABR diplomates will not need to change what they do in 2024 to maintain a license in good standing.
This article dives into the key details around the discontinuation, plus examines what this regulatory change means for the future maintenance of certification of practicing radiologists in the U.S.
Yes, ABR diplomates will still need to complete continuing medical education (CME) credits. The ABR has phased out the SA-CME. However, it was just one component of the Maintenance of Certification (MOC).
Diplomates must still complete 75 Category 1 continuing medical education credits in the previous 3-year period to maintain their certification.
Most state medical boards require radiologists to earn a certain number of CME credits within a specific time frame (usually every two to three years) to renew their medical license. The ABR’s MOC program aligns with these state requirements to make it more convenient for radiologists to maintain their certification.
Even without the SA-CME mandate, ABR diplomates must still complete a predetermined number of CME credits on an ongoing basis from approved providers. Medality offers radiology video courses and cases that meet ABR requirements for CME. The main change is that radiologists no longer must specifically allocate a portion of their CME hours to the self-assessment modules previously required under the SA-CME component.
The Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) annual progress requirement is the number of questions a diplomate must answer each year to maintain their certification.
For most radiologists, it’s 52 questions per year. However, the exact number can vary depending on several factors including:
The OLA replaces the previous 10-year exam cycle and is now a core component of maintaining ABR certification. Diplomates must keep up with the yearly milestones and complete the total required OLA questions or modules within their assigned cycle.
ABR has stated the goal of the OLA is to facilitate more continuous professional development and avoid clinical knowledge lapses between high-stakes exams.
Yes, you can continue to earn continuing medical education (CME) credits through Medality. We remain an accredited provider of AMA PRA Category I™ credits. Radiologists can continue to access eligible courses on our platform.
To redeem your CME on Medality, follow these steps:
If you experience difficulties claiming your CMEs, please contact Medality support for assistance.
Medality, the leading practice development platform for radiologists and imaging organizations and the American Association for Women in Radiology (AAWR), an organization focused on leadership advancement, education, support, and empowerment of women in radiology of all career levels and practice types, announced during RSNA 2023, their collaboration on several initiatives in their shared commitment to advancing & supporting women in radiology and transforming the way radiologists learn and thrive.
In 2024, Medality will further enrich the educational offerings on the platform and continue to showcase the expertise of AAWR members through it’s Noon Conference, a weekly free, live educational webinar that connects the global radiology community. These live lectures are accessible for all, and are an opportunity to learn alongside top radiologists from around the world.
“The AAWR could not be more thrilled to continue our partnership with Medality as we work together to promote women and allies not just in the United States, but around the world when it comes to sharing their expertise and diverse educational content,” said Dr. Amy Patel, AAWR’s President.
Since the launch of the partnership, Medality has amplified AAWR members on the Medality Practice Development Platform by featuring them as speakers and educators through a variety of educational offerings such as: Noon Conference, Mastery Courses, and the Radiology Report Podcast. These AAWR members join notable women in radiology such as Dr. Rachel Brem, Dr. Lacey McIntosh, Dr. Robyn Roth, Dr. Erin Gomez, Dr. Soonmee Cha, Dr. Jenny Bencardino, Dr. Petra Lewis, Dr. Suzie Bash, Dr. Emily Conant, Dr. Laura Avery, Dr. Ella A. Kazerooni, Dr. Pam Schaefer, and more!
“I am thrilled to continue our partnership with the AAWR to advance women in radiology and transform the way radiologists learn and thrive,” shared Daniel Arnold, CEO and Co-Founder of Medality. “I created Medality to connect the international radiology community and to give every radiologist the opportunity to learn from the best educators in the world. Our continued partnership with the AAWR gives their educators access to this international platform so they can expand their diverse voices, continue to teach and inspire the next generation of radiologists.”
To learn more about how you can join the AAWR or Medality’s practice development platform, please reach out to support@medality.com.
About AAWR
The American Association for Women in Radiology AAWR is a professional organization for women radiologists that was founded in 1981 to provide a forum for issues unique to women in radiology, radiation oncology, and related professions. The association sponsors programs that promote opportunities for women, as well as facilitates networking among members and other professionals. AAWR’s goal is to provide mentorship opportunities for the next generation of women radiologists, as well meet the diverse and changing needs of its members.
Learn more at aawr.org.
About Medality
Medality is the leading practice development platform for radiologists and medical imaging organizations. Medality helps tens of thousands of radiologists from over 100 countries upskill in high-growth, advanced imaging areas with case-based microlearning video courses and integrated cases designed to simulate clinical practice from anywhere, anytime. Imaging organizations use Medality to improve diagnostic and reporting quality, reduce turnaround times, and expand their breadth of practice quickly in the areas they need it most.
Medality’s case-based education is accredited under MRI Online by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and totals more than 700 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ across its platform. Learners can also earn SA-CME credits that meet the American Board of Radiology requirement for MOC as well as credits for MQSA, SCCT, NASCI, state licensure requirements and more. Courses are developed in partnership with hundreds of top academic faculty, such as Dr. David Yousem, Dr. Stephen Pomeranz, Dr. Petra Lewis, Dr. Don Resnick, Dr. Rachel Brem, Dr. Suresh Mukherji, Dr. Stefan Zimmerman, and Dr. Lacey McIntosh.
Learn more at www.medality.com.
[Cincinnati, OH, March 9, 2023] – Tower Imaging Medical Group, a leading provider of medical imaging services, announced today that they have entered into a partnership with Medality, formerly MRI Online, to provide advanced training and development opportunities in new subspecialties and modalities for its radiologists.
Medality helps radiology groups expand their breadth of practice in high growth, advanced imaging areas. Its case-based approach to training and practice development helps radiologists upskill across all subspecialties and imaging modalities in as little as five minutes a day. With more than 4,000 bite-sized training videos and over 4,000 integrated, scrollable cases, Medality makes learning accessible from anywhere, anytime.
“At Tower Imaging Medical Group, we believe in staying at the forefront of the medical imaging industry. Our commitment to providing professional development and new growth opportunities for our current team of radiologists and new hires is enhanced with our partnership with Medality,” said Dr. Srinivas Peddi, President and CEO of Tower Imaging Medical Group.
As one of the leading providers of medical imaging services in Southern California, Tower Imaging Medical Group understands the importance of supporting and developing their radiologists, so that they can continue to deliver exceptional imaging services to patients across the region.
“The Mini Fellowships and the ability to perform assessments so that our radiologists can increase their confidence, accuracy, and speed is what excites me about Medality. It makes professional development and continuous medical education more rewarding than just earning credits,” Dr. Peddi added.
Medality’s case-based education is accredited under MRI Online by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and totals more than 600 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ across its platform. Learners can also earn SA-CME credits that meet the American Board of Radiology requirement for MOC as well as credits for MQSA, SCCT, NASCI, state licensure requirements and more. Courses are developed in partnership with hundreds of top academic faculty, such as Dr. David Yousem, Dr. Stephen Pomeranz, Dr. Petra Lewis, Dr. Don Resnick, Dr. Rachel Brem, Dr. Suresh Mukherji, Dr. Stefan Zimmerman, and Dr. Lacey McIntosh.
Tower Imaging Medical Group opened its first office in 1979. Today, their group of physicians, who are experts in the field of radiology, manage the imaging practices at two outpatient imaging centers and two outstanding hospitals in Southern California, from Santa Monica to Valencia. The continued growth of their network of offices and hospitals over more than 40 years has permitted Tower Imaging Medical Group to achieve a large enough size and gain the experience necessary to develop an industry-leading practice management operation. Learn more at https://towerimaging.com/.
Medality is the leading practice development platform for radiologists and medical imaging organizations. Medality helps thousands of radiologists from over 100 countries upskill in high-growth, advanced imaging areas with case-based microlearning video courses and integrated cases designed to simulate clinical practice from anywhere, anytime. Imaging organizations use Medality to improve diagnostic and reporting quality, reduce turnaround times, and expand their breadth of practice quickly in the areas they need it most. Learn more at www.medality.com.
As a practice leader, it is your responsibility to ensure that your radiologists are meeting their CPD requirements. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) have recently updated its CPD requirements to promote the continuous learning and development of radiologists, ensuring that they remain up-to-date with the latest advancements and technologies in the field of radiology. The new requirements focus on promoting evidence-based practice and encourage radiologists to reflect on their professional practice and engage in continuous improvement.
These updated guidelines were developed to better align with the requirements of the Medical Board of Australia (MBA), and the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) and to provide radiologists with a more flexible and personalized approach to professional development. This change brings new opportunities for professional growth, but it also means that radiologists will require guidance and support to navigate the new requirements.
The new CPD program requires radiologists to:
There will also be an additional minimum requirement of activity that needs to be met across the 3 broad categories:
1. Compliance
Radiologists must comply with the new RANZCR CPD requirements, which means that they must complete a certain number of CPD activities each year. Practice leaders must ensure that their radiologists are aware of the updated requirements and are meeting them.
2. Professional Growth
The updated RANZCR CPD program offers radiologists more opportunities for professional growth, including a greater focus on reflective practice and self-directed learning. Practice leaders must help their radiologists to take advantage of these opportunities and provide support for their ongoing development.
3. Improved Patient Care
By meeting the updated RANZCR CPD requirements, radiologists can enhance their knowledge and skills, which will ultimately lead to improved patient care. Practice leaders must recognize the importance of this and encourage their radiologists to embrace the updated program.
4. Competitive Advantage
Practices that have radiologists who are meeting the updated RANZCR CPD requirements will have a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Patients and referring doctors are likely to prefer practices with radiologists who are committed to ongoing professional development.
5. Reputation
A practice’s reputation is closely linked to the reputation of its radiologists. By helping their radiologists to meet the updated RANZCR CPD requirements, practice leaders can enhance their practice’s reputation as a center of excellence in radiology.
Practice leaders have a critical role to play in ensuring that their radiologists meet the updated RANZCR CPD requirements. By providing guidance and support, practice leaders can help their radiologists to embrace the new opportunities for professional growth and ultimately deliver better patient care.
Find the 2023 RANZCR CPD requirements here.
[Cincinnati, OH, February 6, 2023] Lake Medical Imaging, a prominent provider of medical imaging services, announced today that they have entered into a strategic partnership with Medality, formerly MRI Online, to provide evidence-based training and development opportunities to its radiologists.
Medality helps radiology groups expand their breadth of practice in high-growth, advanced imaging areas. Its case-based approach to practice development and training helps radiologists upskill across all subspecialties and imaging modalities in as little as five minutes a day.
“What distinguishes Medality is its Mini Fellowships, which will allow us to increase the number of our radiologists who have additional areas of expertise, so they can continue to provide excellent patient care with even faster results in areas such as cardiac MRI, prostate MRI, CT colonography, and PET/CT,” said Dr. Cathrine Keller, Immediate Past President of Lake Medical Imaging.
As one of the leading providers of medical imaging services across Central Florida, Lake Medical Imaging understands the importance of investing in its radiologists, providing them the necessary professional development training, equipment, and positive working environment to provide the best possible care to their patients.
“Our radiologists can perform the training on demand and have one-on-one interaction with Medality’s subject-matter experts to hone interpretive skills and optimize their report. It makes the effort to go through the CME worth more than just the credits earned,” Dr. Keller added.
Lake Medical Imaging is one of the most respected diagnostic imaging centers in the nation and is a comprehensive full-service radiology practice fully accredited in MRI, CT, PET/CT, women’s imaging, nuclear medicine, and interventional radiology.
“We’re looking forward to a successful implementation of the product,” said Keller after meeting again with the Medality team at the 2023 ACR-RBMA conference in Orlando, Florida.
About Lake Medical Imaging
As a leading provider of medical imaging services across Central Florida, Lake Medical Imaging is renowned for its achievements.
The practice was the first freestanding outpatient imaging center in the nation to receive the Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence (DICOE) designation from the American College of Radiology (ACR) and remains so designated to the present. In 2010, the American College of Radiology designated Lake Medical Imaging as one of the first “Breast Imaging Centers of Excellence”. The practice continues its decades-long history of “firsts”, staying at the forefront of diagnostic imaging’s future by embracing technological innovations in areas such as AI, and by participating in important clinical research trials.
In 2022, they received two national awards from the Radiology Business Management Association for creativity, innovation, collaboration, and exemplary leadership in diagnostic imaging. The awards recognized their groundbreaking work in breast imaging and genetic testing. In partnership with UF Health Central Florida, Lake Medical Imaging has six freestanding locations, 24 diagnostic and interventional radiologists, and reads for two hospitals. They continue to be an innovator in bringing quality diagnostic imaging technology and services to patients and physicians seeking the most comprehensive diagnoses possible. Learn more at https://lakemedicalimaging.com/.
About Medality
Medality is the leading practice development platform for radiologists and medical imaging organizations. Medality helps thousands of radiologists from over 100 countries upskill in high-growth, advanced imaging areas with case-based microlearning video courses and integrated cases designed to simulate clinical practice from anywhere, anytime. Imaging organizations use Medality to improve diagnostic and reporting quality, reduce turnaround times, and expand their breadth of practice quickly in the areas they need it most. Learn more at www.medality.com.
[Cincinnati, OH, January 12, 2023] – Today, Integral Diagnostics (IDX), a leading provider of medical imaging services across Australia and New Zealand, announced that it has selected Medality as its radiology training and development partner of choice. IDX will integrate Medality’s practice development solutions into its RIS/PACS workflow for IDX radiologists across its 72 clinics.
Medality helps radiology groups expand their breadth of practice in high growth, advanced imaging areas. Its case-based approach to training and practice development helps radiologists upskill across all subspecialties and imaging modalities in as little as five minutes a day. With more than 4,000 bite-sized training videos and over 4,000 integrated, scrollable cases, Medality makes learning accessible from anywhere, anytime.
Integrated into the RIS/PACS workflow, Medality also makes it possible to learn @ work – so IDX can truly invest in their team’s skills without adding additional time and burden to their workday.
“IDX is truly invested in the ongoing professional development of our Radiologists, in subspecialties of their interest. Our dedication to Medical Leadership and the provision of expert patient centered care, is enhanced through our partnership with Medality,” said Dr. Lisa Sorger, Chief Medical Officer for IDX.
As a leading employer of radiologists in the region, IDX knows that well-trained, well-equipped and happy radiologists make the best clinicians. Medality is now being rolled out to more than 90 radiologists across 72 IDX clinics throughout Australia and New Zealand.
”Our mission is to transform the way radiologists learn and thrive,” shared Daniel Arnold, the CEO and Co-Founder of Medality. “We found a perfect partner in IDX, whose belief in professional development, continuing education, and dedication to empowering radiologists to learn new skills matches our own.”
Medality’s case-based education is accredited under MRI Online by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and totals more than 600 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ across its platform. Learners can also earn SA-CME credits that meet the American Board of Radiology requirement for MOC as well as credits for MQSA, SCCT, NASCI, state licensure requirements and more. Courses are developed in partnership with hundreds of top academic faculty, such as Dr. David Yousem, Dr. Stephen Pomeranz, Dr. Petra Lewis, Dr. Don Resnick, Dr. Rachel Brem, Dr. Suresh Mukherji, Dr. Stefan Zimmerman, and Dr. Lacey McIntosh.
Integral Diagnostics (IDX) is a leading provider of medical imaging services across Australia and New Zealand serving patients and their referrers at 72 radiology clinics. IDX’s mission is to create a healthier world, which requires investing in state-of-the art equipment, employing the highest quality clinicians and investing in continuous improvement.
Learn more at www.integraldiagnostics.com.au/.
Medality is the leading practice development platform for radiologists and medical imaging organizations. Medality helps thousands of radiologists from over 100 countries upskill in high-growth, advanced imaging areas with case-based microlearning video courses and integrated cases designed to simulate clinical practice from anywhere, anytime. Imaging organizations use Medality to improve diagnostic and reporting quality, reduce turnaround times, and expand their breadth of practice quickly in the areas they need it most.
Learn more at www.medality.com.
[Cincinnati, OH, December 13, 2022] When your company grows its user base by more than 400% in less than three years in a field as discerning as medical imaging, you’ve got to be doing something right.
That’s what MRI Online, the leading learning platform for radiologists, has achieved since it launched in early 2020. What started out as a single MRI course has grown to more than 100 case-based video courses from leading radiology educators and one of the largest volumes of high-quality, peer-reviewed DICOM cases across all key imaging modalities and subspecialties.
That growth and comprehensive scope is reflected in the company’s new name: Medality.
According to Daniel Arnold, CEO and Co-Founder, the name change is long overdue and makes it clear that the company is focused on delivering value across medical imaging.
“Our mission is to transform the way radiologists learn and thrive,” shared Arnold. “Since we originally launched with MSK MRI, our platform has broadened to help radiologists upskill across all modalities and subspecialties, including high-growth advanced imaging areas such as PET, CT, Ultrasound, Breast Tomosynthesis, and more. We’ve changed our name to Medality, a combination of medicine and modality, to reflect that expanded scope and our goals for achieving a broader impact for radiologists, referrers, and ultimately patients.”
Medality’s emergence couldn’t have come at a better time. The increase in demand for medical imaging combined with the shortage of radiologists, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic, means that practice leaders and imaging departments are looking for ways to alleviate overworked, burned out radiologists that are increasingly practicing outside of their subspecialty training.
Over 98% of radiologists in the United States are fellowship trained[1], yet the majority (55%) of radiologists now practice in three or more subspecialties[2] and 85% in two or more subspecialties[3].
To address this reality, Medality is launching the first ever Practice Development Platform to help both radiologists and practice leaders. Radiology groups looking to grow their practice, meet increased imaging demands, or invest in their team’s skills without significant burden to their workload can benefit from Medality’s platform.
Medality’s Practice Development Platform helps imaging organizations and radiologists:
By creating tailored learning pathways, Medality customizes offerings to improve diagnostic quality, reduce turnaround times, and accelerate practice growth by assessing the clinical needs of a practice and identifying practitioners who would benefit from upskilling in targeted areas that the individual needs before they practice.
Throughout the process, Medality gathers performance data as the learners progress through their trainings. With this data, leaders and readers can assess whether they are showcasing demonstrated improvement in accuracy, confidence and efficiency before being placed into a new subspecialty.
With more than 100 courses, 4,000 bite-sized microlearning videos, and over 4,000 integrated, scrollable cases designed to simulate a workstation, Medality offers a flexible practice development solution that radiologists can access anywhere, anytime. Courses are developed in partnership with hundreds of top academic faculty, such as Dr. David Yousem, Dr. Stephen Pomeranz, Dr. Petra Lewis, Dr. Don Resnick, Dr. Rachel Brem, Dr. Suresh Mukherji, Dr. Stefan Zimmerman, and Dr. Lacey McIntosh.
Medality’s case-based education is accredited under MRI Online by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and totals more than 600 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ across its platform. Learners can also earn SA-CME credits that meet the American Board of Radiology requirement for MOC as well as credits for MQSA, SCCT, NASCI, state licensure requirements and more.
For more information, visit www.medality.com.
Medality is the leading practice development platform for radiologists and medical imaging organizations. Medality helps thousands of radiologists from over 100 countries upskill in high-growth, advanced imaging areas with case-based microlearning video courses and integrated cases designed to simulate clinical practice from anywhere, anytime. Imaging organizations use Medality to improve diagnostic and reporting quality, reduce turnaround times, and expand their breadth of practice quickly in the areas they need it most. Learn more at www.medality.com.
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0363018817302098
[2] https://pubs.rsna.org/doi/10.1148/radiol.2017171684
[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1076633220301057
