The COVID-19 pandemic may be dragging down diplomates’ scores on certain exams, the American Board of Radiology reportedly recently.
Candidates just completed the second iteration of remote interventional and diagnostic radiology oral examinations, with the Tucson, Arizona-based nonprofit announcing the results on Oct. 20. First-time test takers have logged a weighted average score of 90% over the past five years, but this latest round landed at 86%.
“The slightly lower pass rate suggests candidates may have been less prepared than usual for the exam, which may reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their education and experience,” ABR said in an Oct. 28 blog post, noting that this is the first large group of IR residents to take exams remotely, having graduated three months beforehand. “This group bore the brunt of pandemic-related diminished clinical activity and opportunities for learning,” the board added later.
ABR made the switch away from in-person testing sites this year and announced in May it will continue holding all examinations remotely through 2022. Nearly all residents completed the latest round of testing without any hiccups, except for a few internet connection issues. Examiners have expressed confidence in the “robustness and validity of the exam in the remote format,” ABR added.
Meanwhile, the American Board of Medical Specialties’ governing body recently approved new standards for continuing certification (formerly known as maintenance of certification). In a separate post Monday, ABR said these changes from its parent organization will have little impact on radiology, including no planned fee increases.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.