SPORTS MEDICINE CONJOINT

EXAM FOR RECERTIFICATION

OF

ADDED QUALIFICATIONS

              APPLICATION  PACKET – Spring 2009 Exam

                                                   QUESTIONS?

                                        - Examination Dates

                                                          - Eligibility Requirements

          CONTACT:  AOA – Certifying Board Services

Phone: (312) 202-8195

Email:  ekraynak@osteopathic.org

  NOTE -

             Examination Date                Sunday, March 29, 2009

                                                            During AOASM 24th Annual Clinical Conference

                                                            March 30 - April 2, 2009

            Location                                Snow Bird, Utah

            Application Deadline          Postmark date of December 31, 2008


INFORMATION FOR THE SPORTS MEDICINE EXAMINATION FOR RECERTIFICATION OF ADDED QUALIFICATIONS

The Sports Medicine Examination program for a certificate of added qualifications is conjointly developed by interested osteopathic specialty boards and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine.  A Sports Medicine Conjoint Examination Committee has representation from each participating specialty board and academy.

This program is designed to recognize excellence among those who provide care to persons who participate in athletics or exercise programs.  The examination evaluates an understanding of the scientific basis of the problems involved in sports medicine, the familiarity with the current advances in sports medicine, the possession of sound judgment and of a high degree of skill in the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures involved in the practice of sports medicine.

Definition

Sports medicine is that branch of the healing arts profession that utilizes an holistic, comprehensive team approach to the prevention, diagnosis, and adequate management of sport and exercise-related injuries, disorders, dysfunctions and exercise-related disease processes.

The specialty of sports medicine consists of the following:

            A.  The comprehensive medical management of the athlete which requires an understanding across a broad scope of specializations.

            B.  An understanding of performance aids, coaching techniques and training skills.

            C.  The science of injury prevention and recognition, advanced rehabilitation techniques and epidemiology.

            D.  The application of wellness through cardiovascular training of the general public as well as athletes with disability.

            E.  The application of sports science in improving the health care of athletes.

            F.  The recognition of the special medical problems of athletes.

            G.  The application of osteopathic principles to athletes.

            H.  The term athlete refers to an individual who is engaged in sport, exercise or physic al activity at the recreational, competitive, industrial, professional or elite level. 

Eligibility 

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements: 

            - Primary certification and sports medicine CAQ is current and in good standing

            - Hold a valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in state where practice is            conducted.  A suspended or revoked license in any jurisdiction at the time of application will not allow admittance to the examination. 

            - Current member in good standing in the American Osteopathic Association or the Canadian Osteopathic Association for at least the two consecutive years immediately prior to application

            - Current practice to include at least 20% in sports medicine 

          -         Documentation on the AOA Activity Report for 2004-2006 and the current cycle of at  least 120 CME hours for the previous three years with 50 of those hours in approved sports medicine courses; 20 hrs. must be in AOASM sponsored programs.  The remaining 30 hrs. may be distributed among the following sources –

                        §         AMSSM sponsored programs

§         ACSM Team Physician Course

§         AAFP or ACOFP sports medicine course

§         Presenting sports medicine lectures at state or national conferences; a maximum of 3 hrs. per lecture (for speaking and preparation) will be awarded by the Cmt. with a maximum total of 9 hrs. for 3 lectures.  Original documentation required would be confirmation form the sponsoring organization or a program schedule with date and location noting you as a speaker along with the lecture title.

§         Sports medicine preceptor hours; up to a maximum of 10 hrs. given by the Cmt. (1 hr. given for every 5 hrs. recorded on the AOA activity report, up to a maximum of 50 recorded hrs.).  Original documentation from an institution confirming these hrs. would be necessary, as the Activity Report does not classify preceptor hrs. by specialty area.

§         Home study hrs. in sports medicine, including self-testing quizzes, up to a maximum of 5 hrs.

§         Attendance at AOA or ACGME university or hospital-based CME programs in sports medicine recognized by the AOA CME Activity Report; original documentation from sponsor would be necessary if not clearly defined on Activity Report

Examination

            Dates/Location

      The CAQ recertification examination in sports medicine will be offered at a time and site as determined by the Committee, but no less than once every two years. 

            Fees/Deadlines

            The nonrefundable application fee of $50 must accompany the application by the published postmark deadline date.  The registration period ends at least ninety days prior to the examination date.  The examination fee will be $750 and payment is requested after approval of a candidate for examination and is due by a published postmark deadline date of at least 45 days prior to the examination date.  There is a nonrefundable penalty fee of $100 for withdrawal later than at least 14 days prior to the examination date.

            Format

            The examination will be a proctored half-day examination consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions of the "one best answer" type.  Questions will cover  the following four major categories:

  Basic Science - 15%                              Injury Management/Prevention - 20%

            A. Anatomy                                      A. On-site immediate acute care

            B. Physiology                                   B. Post event care   

            C. Pharmacology                            C. Sports knowledge,sports rules

            D. Nutrition                                       D. Protective equipment

 

            Diagnostics - 30%                         Treatment - 25%

            A. History                                          A. Pharmacological

            B.  X-ray & lab                                  B. OMT

            C. Performance                               C. Rehab modalities (acute and

                                                                            reinjury prevention)

            D. Consultation                                D. Psychological

             Miscellaneous - 10%

            Preparation

            No specific recommendation about study methods or review courses may be made.  However, extensive self study of sports medicine in texts and journals and participation in continuing medical education programs and review courses in sports medicine should be useful.

              Results

            Candidates will be informed of the results of the examination within 90 days following the examination date.  Successful candidates will receive a certificate for Recertification of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine notating an expiration date of ten years thereafter.  The certificate will be awarded after the AOA Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists gives final approval of the exam process for each candidate.  This approval process may take about six months following the notification of successful completion of the examination. Upon written request and payment of a fee of $50, candidates may obtain rescoring of the examination within a year of receiving the results.  The answer sheets of candidates will be destroyed three years after administration. 

            Reexamination

            Candidates may reapply for the next scheduled examination upon submitting a letter of intent, updated application information and the examination fee of $750.

Application Process

The Sports Medicine Conjoint Examination Committee will review applicant files after the close of the registration period.  Candidates will be notified in writing by their primary certification board of their eligibility. 

 

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