Avoid that awkward moment when you are wondering whether or not to ask someone who just took the exam whether they passed...it's all available to look up at www.abim.org on their home page.

I also just got my nuc board results by US mail today. A nice feature of the nuc board results is that they break out the scores by exam topic, and they tell you exactly how many questions you needed to pass. www.cbnc.org, however, does not dish on who passed. Their website only allows a search for diplomates, but most fellows probably fall into the testamur category -- once the CBNC reconciles that you passed your ABIM CV boards, you get switched from testamur to diplomate status.

Anyone want to kickoff a discussion on the exam process now that it is over?

- What do you wish you had done differently?  did you waste time on the wrong information?  do you wish you had gone to a course after all?  do you regret going to the course?

- What did you do right...books, courses, voodoo...

This seems like a much better time to get insight and advice than 6-8 months from now, when the traumatic memories have been blocked out...

Amy Miller (Ass't Moderator)

This article cites that errors go down when housestaff sleep more, and work-hours rules have led to more inadequate signouts. True, but...what's more dangerous, a resident who hasn't slept or one that doesn't know how to recognize and manage disease? Won't shortening shifts lead to more signouts? And would housestaff, when forced to, actually sleep if they had to stay in a hospital call room for 5 hours? Also, the error rate, according to their own statistics, is 35% with 5 hours of sleep, but <27% if they sleep more. Is that a clinically (or statistically) meaningful difference?

These recommendations will cost an additional $1.7 billion in their own estimates to cover nap time. Doesn't mention whether this figure includes the effect of banning moonlighting. Medical education ain't getting any cheaper, and a moonlighting ban will only add to housestaff debt burden.

The only feasible way to go along with the IOM's recommendations, IMHO, is that residency will need to be lengthened so housestaff get the adequate clinical experience to become independent operators. No resident would support that and would gladly give up nap time to shorten training.

The added irony is that attendings have no "mandatory nap time". The concept itself seems ridiculous. Should attendings be forced to take naps, too?

Brian Choi, Asst Moderator

"the examination [consists] of approximately 175 questions...[passing] usually requires a correct response to 124 to 130 questions." MD Cerqueira et al. JACC Imaging 1(6):801-8, 2008.

That means you need to get at least 71-74% correct to pass.

Brian Choi, Asst Moderator

Sources of support: 

I lined up like a lemming and have also been slogging through the Mayo "concise" textbook. Despite its heft, it's quick reading.

Anyone have the new version of O'Keefe? I've been studying my old version -- I doubt there have been any landmark breakthroughs in electrocardiograms between the editions.

Brian Choi, Asst Moderator

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121867148093738861.html

It questioned the statistical integrity of the study that was submitted to the FDA for approval of the Taxus Liberte (by the way, does anyone know where I can find the publication of this study?). In almost breathless tone, the article described how the Wall Street Journal conducted an independent analysis to determine that the Wald Interval is the inappropriate test for statistical significance in this kind of study and criticized that the study was not randomized (comparison was made to historical controls of patients that received Taxus Express) or non-blinded. But is there any real "gotcha" here?

First, is it really necessary to have a randomized trial to approve an incremental design change from Taxus Express to Taxus Liberte? Second, is it even possible to blind it? Third, who cares if it only meets statistical significance with the Wald only? It's commonly used and every other p value in the WSJ analysis had p=0.05.

It is interesting to note that no cardiologists (besides Baim of Boston Scientific) were interviewed for the story, and the expert criticism comes from statisticians, a mathematician and an internist.

I think that most interventionalists would still say, "Give me Liberte!"

The most fascinating aspect of this article, I think, is that it is another example of the new phenomenon of a post-publication "peer review" by the lay press.

Any thoughts? (BTW, I have no relevant disclosures, but if you really want to nitpick, I do have a Boston Scientific pen lying around my home somewhere).

Brian Choi, Asst Moderator

SES have dropped off due to the release of the newer stents.  ZES are less popular with the unconventional delivery system, but seem very deliverable in tight spots.  EES are just out and everyone is hot to try them out, but have seen some PES-like sticky balloons.

Curious to know whether anybody else is havine a similar experience with stents or reps?

Consider it a given that the guidelines are a great place to start, but which textbooks are worth paying money out of your pocket to put in your library?

Eiran Gorodeski (co moderator)

Looking to get comments from others who have attended the Stone course in San Jose or gone to the C3 conference in New Orleans, etc.

What about the EP workshops put on by the device companies - anybody have anything good to say about these other than a nice hotel room and a free meal?

Imaging & Heart Failure fellows also welcome to add their comments.

I just got my ABIM CV exam registration receipt that lets you schedule your exam at a Pearson VUE center. Assignments are first-come first-served, and I was surprised that the test site that I wanted to schedule my exam was already filled for the Nov 5th date. I can't imagine that exam spots are filled because of cardiology fellows signing up for exams so early (the deadline for registration was 5/1 after all), but these test centers also administer tons of other exams, too (e.g., real estate broker exam, GMAT, etc), so I am guessing that local test center availability may vary.

The bottom line...don't forget to sign up early :)

Brian Choi, MD

Moderator 

Good luck!

Eiran Gorodeski / Fellows Corner moderator

The ABIM website is www.abim.org - you'll need your NPI number and $1655.