Most of the hospitalists who are internists will be either board-eligible or board-certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). You should be aware that ABIM has developed a new program, the Recognition of Focused Practice (RFP) in Hospital Medicine. As part of this maintenance of certification (MOC) program, ABIM diplomates will have the opportunity to take the first ABIM Hospital Medicine examination in October. For more information about this exam, ABIM’s rationale for recognizing a focused practice in HM, and any other questions about this program, please visit the ABIM Web site at www.abim.org/news/news/focused-
practice-hospital-medicine-qa.aspx.
I have heard from hospitalists trained as family physicians who are interested in RFP as hospitalists. It is my understanding that the American Board of Family Medicine is studying the ABIM program and working to develop a similar program for hospitalists with family medicine board certifications.
Regarding your question about hospitalists and the American Heart Association’s advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) training and certification: While I think it is a great idea for hospitalists to receive this training and maintain this certification, I am not aware of any mandate for hospitalists to be uniformly ACLS-certified. I think this is an issue the medical staff at your medical center will have to decide; basically, what is in the best interests of your patients?