Mayo 2005 IM - What is inside?

This is 29 DVD disks:
The following topics are covered in Mayo Internal Medicine Videos:


How to Prepare for the ABIM Certification and Maintenance of Certification Examination
Amit K. Ghosh, MD
Hematology — Anemias
Thomas M. Habermann, MD
Hematology — Malignancies
Thomas M. Habermann, MD
Preventive Medicine
Sally J. Trippel, MD, MPH
Psychiatry
Bruce Sutor, MD
Cardiology — Mechanisms, Diagnosis & Therapies for CV Arrhythmia’s
Peter A. Brady, MD
Cardiology — CAD/MI
Abhiram Prasad, MD
Geriatrics
Darryl S. Chutka, MD
Neurology — Part I & II
Brian A. Crum, MD
Nephrology — Part I & II
Robert C. Albright, Jr., DO
Cardiology — Arrhythmia EKG’s/Clinical Syndromes
Peter A. Brady, MD
Cardiac Physical Exam
Kyle W. Klarich, MD
Cardiology — Systematic & Congenital Heart Disease
Kyle W. Klarich, MD
Gastroenterology — Liver
John J. Poterucha, MD
Pulmonary — Signs & Symptoms, COPD, Pulmonary Functions, Cystic Fybrosis, and Sleep Disordered Breathing
John G. Park, MD
Pulmonary — Diffuse Lung Disease, Occupational Lung Disease
Timothy R. Aksamit, MD
Infectious Diseases — Bacterial & Mycobacterial Pathogens
Larry M. Baddour, MD, FACP
Pulmonary — Pulmonary Infections
Charles F. Thomas, Jr., MD
Hypertension
Gary L. Schwartz, MD
Chest X-Rays
John G. Park, MD
Pulmonary — Neoplasms, Pulmonary Embolism, Vasculitis
Karen L. Swanson, DO
Allergic Diseases
Gerald W. Volcheck, MD
Gastroenterology — Part I & II
Robert E. Sedlack, MD
Gastroenterology — Colon & Pancreas
Thomas R. Viggiano, MD
Infectious Diseases — Fungi, Viruses, Parasites & Other Pathogens
Abinash Virk, MD
Infectious Diseases — Clinical Syndromes
Robert Orenstein, DO
Infectious Diseases — Antimicrobial Agents
Irene G. Sia, MD
Infectious Diseases — HIV Infection
Zelalem Temesgen, MD
General Internal Medicine
Scott C. Litin, MD
Topics in Perioperative Management
Margaret Beliveau-Ficalora, MD
Nephrology — Glomerular Disease
Fernando C. Fervenza, MD, PhD
Nephrology — Dialysis/Acute Renal Failure
Amy W. Williams, MD
Oncology — Part I & II
Timothy J. Moynihan, MD
Rheumatology — Part I & II
William W. Ginsburg, MD
Dermatology
Lisa A. Drage, MD
Women’s Health Issues
Lynne T. Shuster, MD
Images in Internal Medicine
John B. Bundrick, MD
Rheumatology — Part I & II
Clement J. Michet, Jr., MD
Hematology — Part I & II
Thomas M. Habermann, MD
Non-Internal Medicine for the Internist: Urology, ENT, Ophthalmology
Alan K. Duncan, MD
Critical Care Medicine
Otis B. Rickman, DO
Thyroid & Parathyroid
Bryan McIver, MBChB, PhD
Diabetes & Hypoglycemia
Bryan McIver, MBChB, PhD
Genetics
Virginia V. Michels, MD
Pituitary & Adrenal Medulla
Bryan McIver, MBChB, PhD
Adrenal Cortex & Gonads
Bryan McIver, MBChB, PhD
Medical Ethics
C. Christopher Hook, MD
Vascular Medicine
Peter C. Spittell, MD
Cardiology CHF/Cardiomyopathies
Barry L. Karon, MD

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Click here to get Mayo IM Videos

Mayo 2005 Internal Medicine Videos

Mayo Clinic Internal Medicine Board Review is an intensive program designed to help candidates apply the 'finishing touch' to their preparations for the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certification and maintenance of certification examinations. For the practicing physician, it also provides a comprehensive overview of all areas in Internal Medicine. All course faculty are affiliated with Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and have had extensive experience in training candidates for various certification examinations. This course is an extension of Mayo’s highly successful and popular tradition of annual board reviews for Mayo Clinic residents and fellows.

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Seven Year Rule and the USMLE

Seven Year Rule and the USMLE

Currently there are 8 States which do not have a 7 year rule concerning the USMLE Examination. What is the 7 year rule? The seven year rule is measured by the total number of years it took to pass the First Step of the USMLE by a physician and the Final Step of the USMLE. If it took more than 7 years between the two then most Boards will not issue a license to the Physician. The Board which have this rule typically will require that the Physician take one of three courses:

1. Retake the Steps of the USMLE which fall out of the 7 year period from the passing of the last Step.

2. Sit and pass the SPEX examination

3. Apply for a waiver of the USMLE 7 year rule. The Physician must provide a valid reason as to why it took longer than 7 years. These typically include family crisis, health issues, Civil Unrest, and Natural Disasters. The route is not guaranteed. The Board can arbitrarily decide not to issue the license.

The States which do not have a 7 year rule for the USMLE are as follows:

California	Florida	Kansas (10 years)
Louisiana	Michigan	New Hampshire
New York	Wyoming

This information is valid as of April 5th, 2006. As with all information posted on this site, it is subject to change. If you have any specific questions you can call the individual Medical Board.

The fastest Medical Boards

# 1 - Indiana Medical Board

The Indiana Medical Board can issue a Temporary License in 2 weeks given that everything falls into place. The Indiana Medical Board has limited verification requirements which allows for an expedited process. The verifications which are required are limited to the NPDB-HIPDB report, Medical School Transcripts, Board Scores, and State License Verifications. Most licenses with Indiana are issued between 1 1/2 to 3 months.

# 2 - Michigan Medical Board

The Michigan Medical Board is the only State with True Reciprocity. If a Physician has held an active License in the USA for at least 10 years, then the only verifications which are required are State License Verifications. Most licenses with Michigan are issued within 1 1/2 months to 3 months. If a Physician hasn't held a license for 10 years then the Physician's Medical School, State Licenses, and Board Scores have to be sent to the Michigan Medical Board.

# 3 - Virginia Medical Board

The Virginia Medical Board is one of the best managed Boards in the United States. Upon the completion of the Physician's file, the licenses are issued within 2 weeks. Although the Board verifies all education and 5 years employment they do not loose verifications in their mail system. If it is mailed to Virginia then it will be placed in your file. This seems trivial but having to request verifications 2 to 8 times (i.e. Arkansas Medical Board & Kentucky Medical Board) can cause significant delays of weeks to months. Our firm is very fast and efficient. This combined with the quality of management at Virginia ranks them as one of the fastest Medical Boards. Most licenses with Virginia are issued after 8 weeks.

ECGMG - frequently asked questions

1. What is the difference between a confirmation report and a status report?

   A confirmation report verifies only whether an international medical graduate is ECFMG certified. A status report also verifies ECFMG certification status, but also indicates passing performance on exams, medical school information and the status of the individual's medical education credentials.

2. Which examination scores are provided on a status report?

   A status report provides information on the examination(s) passed for ECFMG certification. If subsequent examinations have been taken, the requester may have to contact the appropriate registration organization to obtain information on these examinations. Scores for USMLE Step exams are not included in Status Reports. These scores are reported in USMLE transcripts.

3. How long does it take to process a request?

   Requests are processed within two weeks of receipt of a completed request at ECFMG.

4. Can a report be sent by an express mail service?

   A response will be sent by an express mail carrier if a prepaid air bill or account number is included with the request form. This service is not available for requests submitted through CVS ON-LINE.

5. How can requesters verify receipt and processing of their requests?

   ECFMG's Applicant Information Services (AIS) representatives can verify processing of requests. To speak with an AIS representative, call (215) 386-5900.

6. Can international medical graduates request a confirmation or status report for themselves?

   CVS reports are sent only to third parties. International medical graduates can request a USMLE transcript or ECFMG Exam Chart.

7. Are USMLE transcripts sent to state medical boards?

   No. ECFMG will provide Status Reports to state medical boards. This report indicates passing performance on examination(s) for ECFMG Certification. State medical boards that require additional USMLE information should contact the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB).

8. Is there a fee for this service?

   Yes. The fee is $25 per report.

9. Can CVS fees be paid with a credit card?

   Yes. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards are accepted for payment of the fee of $25 per report. Requesting organizations must complete a Credit Card Payment Form.

10. How is incorrect information on a report corrected?

    Upon notification of the discrepancy, ECFMG will review the physician's file. In some instances, the physician may be required to submit documents to ECFMG. If information is changed, ECFMG will send a revised report.

11. How are requests from "Fifth Pathway" physicians handled?

    Fifth Pathway is an American Medical Association program. Fifth Pathway physicians are not certified by ECFMG. As a result, ECFMG does not verify Fifth Pathway status. ECFMG will send a response stating that the physician is not ECFMG certified.

12. How are requests regarding graduates of medical schools in Canada and Puerto Rico handled?

    Graduates of medical schools in the United States (including Puerto Rico) and Canada are not considered "international medical graduates" and therefore are not required to obtain ECFMG Certification. An ECFMG Identification Number is issued to graduates of Canadian medical schools only for purposes of Exchange Visitor Sponsorship (J-1 visa). ECFMG will send a letter explaining this ECFMG policy in response to these requests.

13. What if the requesting organization does not receive the report?

    ECFMG will honor requests for duplicate reports at no additional cost up to ninety days after the date that the original report was processed.

ABIM Internal Medicine boards - 10 Tips

* When & How to study for ABIM exam: During your medical residency, schedule time to study for the ABIM Internal medicine boards. The third year (PGY 3) of your residency should be your main time of preparation. Reading alone is usually a bad strategy and often depressing. You may not be able to retain much of the ABIM material that you reviewed alone either. Try to form a study group with other PGY 3 residents who will be taking the same ABIM Internal medicine boards. This will boost every ones morale and give a common sense of purpose. Set a mutually agreeable time for the discussions. The best time to study in a group is over the weekend when none of you have residency obligations. Spending three or four hours every weekend (once a week) is enough to stay focused. Understand what you are studying and the reasons for it. Keep asking yourself the question “why?” and “why not?”

* Study groups: It is crucial that you keep your study group small and stay focused on your ABIM Internal medicine board exam goals. An ideal number would be three or four residents. More than four residents would be counter-productive. Try to have a schedule and read ahead of the planned discussion. By preparing ahead, you will save time, cover more topics and retain more from the discussion. The study group will work best if all participants follow the same board review material. However, different ABIM board review material could also work to your advantage. A good plan is to discuss your ABIM Internal medicine board review study material (Medstudy / Mayo clinic review etc) for the first two hours and then solve multiple choice questions (MKSAP) for the next two hours. Solving multiple-choice questions in groups and discussing each option in detail is vital in developing your thought process and sharpening your clinical decision making skills. You will realize the usefulness of the study group and thank your colleagues when you sit for the actual ABIM Internal medicine boards.

* What to study for ABIM exam: Decide on the ABIM Internal medicine board review material you wish to study from. We have reviewed some commonly used material in this website. The important thing is to choose what works best for you. Choose one ABIM board review textbook and stick to it. It is far more advantageous to revise the same material several times than reading several different materials and getting confused. You must concentrate on solving MKSAP or Medstudy questions at least 50 % of your preparation time.

* Create and devote time to prepare for your ABIM boards. Remember, medical residency is the best time to prepare for the boards. Once your residency is completed, you are thrown out into the real world. If you are starting a fellowship, you will not find much time to study. If you are starting a job as a new physician, your first month will be busy learning the intricate details of medical practice and the paperwork that comes with it. You will most likely, end up designating ten days for study just prior to the exams and as we all know that never works out. So once again, residency is the best time to study. You will not find that kind of quality time after your residency.

* Prepare a schedule to study for ABIM Internal medicine board exams and hang it in a prominent place. You will make several changes to this over time. Plan to revise the ABIM Internal medicine board review material that you have chosen several times (minimum twice). Stay focused throughout the third year of your residency. By middle of the third year, your ABIM Internal medicine board review preparation must be at its peak. If you have not yet formed a study group, now is your last chance.

* Solve questions similar to ABIM exam content: Don’t try to read the ABIM Internal medicine board review material from “cover to cover”. You will not retain much. The best way to prepare is to solve questions, then read the explanation and then look up additional information related to each of the choices (options). This really improves your understanding of the question, familiarizes you with the “teaching principle” and the “testing objective” of that question (which may be repeated in the actual ABIM Internal medicine board exam), and gives you an opportunity to learn about all the other choices and how they differ from the correct answer. Ideally you should be solving MKSAP questions in your second year of residency (PGY 2). If this is not the case, you must definitely begin doing the MKSAP questions by the start of your third year of residency (PGY 3).

* Pictures & Images: Pictures of skin disorders, X-rays and other images given in board questions are generally easy ones to score points. Looking at the image first, before reading the question, usually helps spot the abnormality. Reading the ABIM question’s stem after that will help you put the pieces of the puzzle in place.

* ABIM answering strategies: When reading long multiple choice questions, it may be useful to first read the actual “lead line” of the ABIM Internal medicine board exam question. Once you understand what the question is asking, you can stay focused and look for clues in the long stem of the ABIM exam question. This strategy will also save you time. Several residents have found this strategy useful. As you read through the question, you may also find it useful to underline the key facts and abnormal findings. Once you have gone through the choices, it will be easy to look at the underlined abnormalities and try to “connect the dots”.

* Zebras: Use exam “techniques” to your advantage. Look for target words in ABIM Internal medicine board exam questions. These are referred to as “zebras”. For example in an ABIM exam question, if you see the word “anosmia”, think Kallmann’s syndrome. If you see the phrase “scar on left abdomen”, think splenectomy and look for encapsulated organisms causing sepsis. If the patient is from the Ohio or Mississippi river valleys, think histoplasmosis (CXR calcifications).

* ABIM exam day: Do not study the day before the ABIM Internal medicine boards or in-between the ABIM exam sessions. Discussing the ABIM exam questions with other residents may upset you and adversely affect your performance in the next session. Remember, “What is done, is done”. So don’t cry over spilt milk. Rather, stay focused and conserve your energy for the next ABIM board exam session.

NBOME, COMLEX and USMLE

What is the NBOME?

The NBOME is the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners. It's a nonprofit corporation dedicated to serving the public and state licensing agencies by administering examinations testing the medical knowledge of osteopathic medical students and interns. The NBOME was established in July 1934. Its website is at http://www.nbome.org

What is the COMLEX?

In order to more accurately measure the knowledge required by today's physicians, the NBOME initiated the three-level Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA) to replace the former three-part NBOME examination series. The COMLEX is a three part exam. Each exam is administered over a two day period, and employs an osteopathic primary care approach to patient care fully integrated throughout the examination.

What is the USMLE?

The USMLE is the United States Medical Licensing Exam -- it is taken by allopathic medical students and interns. It is administered by a Committee Consisting of representatives of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMGSM), the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), and the public. The Composite Committee establishes policies and procedures for the USMLE program. The USMLE website is at http://www.usmle.org.

When do medical students and interns take the COMLEX?

The first COMLEX is usually taken at the completion of the second-year of medical school. The next COMLEX is taken during the fourth year of medical school. The final exam is taken during the internship (first residency year).

Why do I need to take the COMLEX?

All states require you to have passed a licensing exam before they will issue you a license to practice. Most osteopathic medical schools require COMLEX as part of the process towards graduation. It is also used by residency programs to make selections of who they will interview and accept for their program. Usually this decision is made only with the scores from the first COMLEX.