The evidence and rationale for Maintenance of Licensure

Abstract

Fulfilling a statutory responsibility to protect the public within their jurisdictions, state medical boards have been working with the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and collaborating organizations to thoughtfully explore pathways and procedures by which Maintenance of Licensure (MOL) may be implemented for physicians in the years ahead. As a better understanding emerges of the types of continuing medical education (CME) and continuous professional development (CPD) activities physicians already engage in, and the resources that may be necessary for state boards to meaningfully implement MOL, questions have sometimes arisen about the value of these activities in contributing to quality health care and improved patient outcomes. Though MOL has not yet been formally implemented, there is a growing body of compelling evidence and rationale for the educational activities that could meet a state board's requirements for MOL. This article summarizes the recent literature on the subject, including CME and CPD, and recent policy statements of organizations and thought leaders from the house of medicine.