DR Diplomates Take Advantage of New Practice Profile Options
by N. Reed Dunnick, MD, ABR Executive Associate Director for Diagnostic Radiology
2022;15(2):5
We very much appreciate the comments made by radiologists participating in Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA). These comments help us to keep OLA practical and pertinent.
In January, new rules went into effect that gave diplomates more options for configuring their practice profiles in OLA. Diagnostic radiology diplomates can now select up to four clinical practice areas (CPAs) and can divide the percentage of questions among them as they wish, as long as no area is less than 25% and all areas add up to 100%.
In addition, diplomates with a DR certificate and one subspecialty certificate can choose 25% of their OLA questions from a CPA other than their subspecialty.
The changes, which were made in response to diplomate feedback, have been popular. In the first quarter of 2022, 65% of DR diplomates have chosen a new practice profile. The CPAs “general diagnostic radiology” and “emergency radiology” are contained in 58% of profiles. Altogether, there are 1,357 different combinations of CPAs currently in use by DR diplomates.
A few reminders:
- Changes can be made to the selected CPAs and the percentage allocations as often as desired and will take effect immediately.
- Because performance evaluations are based on the most recent 200 scorable questions, questions from a CPA that is no longer selected in the current practice profile may be included in a diplomate’s performance evaluation.
- The performance ratings of all CPAs in the most recent 200 questions can be seen in the cumulative score data.
