Maintenance of Certification (MOC) refers to the continuous process of professional development that surgeons must participate in to maintain board certification. Board certification is a professional credential communicating to patients that a physician is up to date with the most recent standards of practice and patient care. MOC involves ongoing measurement of six core competencies, which include practice-based learning and improvement, patient care and procedural skills, systems-based practice, medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, and professionalism. Even though MOC promotes high-quality patient care, a vocal minority of physicians have expressed displeasure with MOC calling on state legislatures to take action prohibiting the use of MOC for licensure, hospital privileging, reimbursement, and employment. In response to these concerns, several states have enacted legislation prohibiting the use of MOC in some way.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is opposed to legislation prohibiting the use of MOC because it interferes with the right of the profession to set its own standards, interferes with the ability of hospital medical staffs to set quality standards for their institutions, and denies patients the right to know whether the specialists caring for them are up to date in their fields. STS sees board certification and recertification as an important component of surgeons meeting higher standards of quality surgical care, and supports educational activities to assist surgeons in their recertification efforts.
Adopted by the Executive Committee of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons: January 27, 2018