MOC Part IV at OHSU

The ABMS Portfolio Program recognizes activities designed to improve provider practices and the care of patients. Activities can be large in scale to address systemic and clinical issues or smaller activities to improve a specific area of practice.  Activities typically involve a team of individuals although individual efforts can qualify.

High caliber quality improvement projects completed at OHSU are efficiently approved for MOC Part IV using the ABMS Portfolio Program administered by The SoM Office of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).  OHSU SoM offers an administrative structure that supports the alignment of CPD/QI/MOC/OPPE to address clinical and practice gaps and improve patient outcomes.  OHSU Providers (physicians/PAs) can easily obtain MOC Part IV credit for QI initiatives centered on the needs of their practice.

ABMS Portfolio Program logo

Why should you use the Multi-Specialty Portfolio Program for your MOC Part IV credit requirements?

  1. Efficient – Gain recognition for the great work you are already doing
  2. Meaningful - Fulfill your MOC IV requirements via QI initiatives centered on the needs of your practice
  3. Free – There is no charge to submit through the OHSU Portfolio Program
  4. Administrative Framework – Utilize CPDs existing process and leverage our experienced resources

Process improvements made in response to COVID-19 MAY BE ELIGIBLE for MOC Part IV credit.  If you and/or your unit made and evaluated process changes, please contact Continuing Professional Development  to determine how we can support your receipt of credit.

  • Utilize OHSU’s A3 Problem solving format (include Problem, Current State, Root Causes, SMART Aim)  [Example completed A3]
  • Collect pre-intervention baseline data
  • Implement at least one test of change (i.e., PDSA cycle) designed to impact the Aim
  • Collect post-intervention data to track and evaluate the test(s) of change
  • Plot baseline data and follow-up data points on an annotated run chart
  • Complete a brief attestation form confirming meaningful engagement in the QI project 

For more information about the ABMS QI Activity Requirements, click this link .

Interested in submitting your QI/PS work for MOC Part IV credit?
Click this link to complete the submission form and upload the required documentation.

Do you have questions about the MOC Part IV Program or getting started on a QI project?
Email OHSU Continuing Professional Development at cme@ohsu.edu.

Requirements for Individual Provider Engagement: 

  • Develop and/or apply QI tools to practice 
  • Review performance data not less than 3 times
  • Reflect on impact of QI (via online attestation)

For more details on the ABMS Meaningful Participation requirements, click this link. 

CPD wants to help our providers receive maintenance of certification (MOC) credit for the improvement work they are involved with!  Submitting an activity to the SoM ABMS Portfolio Program is free.

Options and process

Interested in submitting your QI/PS work for MOC Part IV credit?
Click this link to complete the submission form and upload the required documentation.

Do you have questions about the MOC Part IV Program or getting started on a QI project?
Email OHSU Continuing Professional Development at cme@ohsu.edu.

Previous Projects that earned MOC Part IV through the Portfolio Program:

  • Colorectal Cancer Screening 
  • Housestaff-Driven Improvements in Surrogate Decision Maker Documentation
  • Reduction of Active Patients with Poorly Controlled Diabetes
  • Reducing morbidity and mortality from non-POA sepsis in adult patients

Provider Feedback:

"Appreciate being able to obtain credit for projects that are directly relevant to my own clinical practice and that bring real improvement in quality of care for my patients."

"I will be more inclined to attempt to address problems from a systems approach, not an individual-provider approach."

"Thank you CPD! You have been so helpful in this process and flexible.  It’s much appreciated."

The following ABMS member boards, along with the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) are participating in this program:

Anesthesiology (ABA)

Dermatology (ABD)

Emergency Medicine (ABEM)

Family Medicine (ABFM)

Internal Medicine (ABIM)

Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG)

Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABO+G)

Ophthalmology (ABO)

Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS)

Pathology (ABPATH)

Pediatrics (ABP)

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR)

Preventative Medicine (ABPM)

Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN)

Radiology (ABR)

Surgery (ABS)

Thoracic Surgery (ABTS)

Urology (ABU)

Why should I use the Multi-Specialty Portfolio Program for my MOC Part IV credit requirements?

  1. Efficient – Gain recognition for the great work you are already doing
  2. Meaningful - Fulfill your MOC IV requirements via QI initiatives centered on the needs of your practice
  3. Free – There is no charge to submit through the OHSU Portfolio Program
  4. Administrative Framework – Utilize CPDs existing process and leverage our experienced resources

How do I submit a project?

Projects are submitted to Continuing Professional Development.  Click on the Submission tab above to learn more!

How do I determine if a QI project is eligible for MOC Part IV credit?

Eligible projects should meet the following core project requirements:

  • Utilize OHSU’s A3 Problem solving format (include Problem, Current State, Root Causes, SMART Aim)
  • Collect pre-intervention baseline data
  • Implement at least one test of change (i.e., PDSA cycles) designed to impact the Aim
  • Collect post-intervention data to track and evaluate the test(s) of change
  • Plot baseline data and follow-up data points 

Which boards are participating?

All ABMS member boards with the exception of the six listed below.  Click on the Participating Boards tab above to confirm your board is participating.

  • Allergy and Immunology (ABAI)
  • Colon and Rectal Surgery (ABCRS)
  • Neurological Surgery (ABNS)
  • Nuclear Medicine (ABNM)
  • Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS)
  • Plastic Surgery (ABPS)

How long does it take to get a project approved?

The Review Committee meets three times a year to review all submitted projects.  Interim project reviews can occur and are evaluated on a case by case basis.

Who is eligible to participate?

All providers at OHSU or an OHSU affiliate partner who are certified by a participating ABMS member board.

Can PAs and NPs get credit through this program?

PAs CAN attain credit through the Portfolio Program.  At this time NPs CANNOT attain credit through the Portfolio Program.

Is there a fee?

No!  Project submission is free! And who doesn't like free??

Does a particular QI process have to be used, i.e. Lean, Six Sigma, etc?

Not necessarily.  Ideally, project leads will utilize OHSUs A3 Problem Solving format but alternate QI processes are acceptable.

How is successful completion reported to the certifying boards?

The Continuing Professional Development team uploads project information to the appropriate ABMS member boards via the ABMS portal.   CPD issues an online attestation link to all participating providers and  your board will issue credit (typically 2-3 weeks after attestation completion). 

Board notification processes vary.  Some boards send an email notification to you directly when credit is issued and others do not.  You can always check your MOC progress on your board portal. 

What if the MOC Part IV Committee does not award MOC Part IV credit to me for failing to meet the criteria for Project Approval or Meaningful Participation?

The Review Committee will review a given project up to two times.  Continuing Professional Development staff will provide project leads with information as to why the Review Committee did not approve the project upon initial submission and offer guidance regarding project adjustments for resubmission and successful Review Committee approval.

In 2019, the American Board of Medical Specialties Portfolio Program™ (ABMS Portfolio Program) granted an expansion of OHSU’s portfolio sponsorship status beyond the Department of Pediatrics.  This allows OHSU School of Medicine to review and approve quality and safety activities for MOC credit from participating ABMS Member Boards or the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).  With this expansion, SoM strives to create opportunities to share QI initiatives (and lessons learned from those efforts) more broadly across the institution.  

The SoM’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) unit oversees and administers the OHSU Portfolio Program.  As a designated ABMS Portfolio Program Sponsor, CPD takes care of the essential administrative tasks related to credit confirmation. 

  • Submitting activities to the ABMS Portfolio Program for approval.
  • Reviewing and approving individual or group attestations of activity participation.
  • Sending confirmation of activity completion to the ABMS Portfolio Program for transmission to the particular ABMS Member Board(s) or the NCCPA to receive credit approval. 

Current Review Committee members: 

Daisuke Yamashita, M.D. - Committee Chair

Nels Carlson, M.D.

Kenneth DeVane - Sr. Performance Improvement Consultant

Renee Edwards, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.O.G., F.A.C.S.

Deborah Eldredge, Ph.D., RN

Jacob Luty, M.D.

Lia Mills - Performance Improvement Manager

Alexander Nydahl, M.P.A.S., PA-C

Johanna Warren, M.D.

OHSU Portfolio Program Staff:

Laura Speer - MOC IV Specialist

Liane Giles LeBlanc, MS – Associate Director CPD

OPIP Contacts:

Colleen Reuland - Program Director

Katie Unger M.P.H - Program Manager, Facilitation & Improvement