National Simulation Center awarded new certification
By Gerald Sonnenberg
EES Marketing and Communication
ORLANDO, Fla. – The American Society of Anesthesiologists has granted the VHA SimLEARN National Simulation Center Maintenance Of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) certification for the training and testing commensurate with requirements for board certification and maintenance in anesthesiology.
According to the Guide to Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology, “Maintenance of Certification (MOC) is an active process of assessment and continuous professional development that allows participants to demonstrate ongoing competency with advances in the field of medicine throughout their entire careers. The MOC concept originated with the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) in 1999. As a member board of the ABMS, the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) has been charged with implementing MOC activities that will assure the public that its diplomates: Are up-to-date with knowledge of their specialties; hold unrestricted medical licenses; are respected in their practices by peers and patients; demonstrate professionalism as physicians; and continually evaluate and improve their practices.”
This achievement will allow SimLEARN to provide the thousand plus anesthesiologists in VHA this required simulation-based forum for board maintenance and certification.
"To our Veterans, this means that their VA is providing the resources needed to insure that the thousands of anesthesiologists in VA medical centers across the nation maintain their skills and knowledge at an optimum level,” said Dr. Patricio Bruno, SimLEARN associate medical director for training. “This will further improve the quality and safety of our Veterans who undergo surgery at a VA medical center. In addition, by gaining certification, the VHA SimLEARN National Simulation Center will save taxpayers thousands of dollars by providing this resource in-house, versus outsourcing it to expensive external MOCA Centers. "
For more information about the VHA SimLEARN National Simulation Center, click here.
