April 2017 Tip of the Month

Online Review Course - starts in April

For those who cannot get away to our review course in Charlotte, we are now offering the next best thing! Our course has all the benefits of online learning, while including many of the most popular attributes of our live review course.

• The orientation video explains how to optimally navigate this learning pathway to ultimately pass your written exam
• Strategy videos help you design a study plan ranging in length from 1 week to 10 weeks. These guidelines hold you accountable - whether you have months or days to prepare for the written exam
• Each topic comes with a video demonstrating the evidence-based CQRPE written question methodology
• Discussion forums and more!

ABOG Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Candidates

You’re working on your taxes, right? That means the first quarter is over. Are you finished with your first quarter articles? Didn’t you make a New Year’s resolution that you weren’t going to procrastinate this year? Promise yourself to get those finished before the second quarter list comes out.

For those of you in MOC Year 6, you must pass a written exam by December 15^th, 2017. If you’ve never cut corners before, then our five day Board Review Courses, April 19-23, September 13-17 and November 15-19, are perfect for you. This is not the same type of review course as in the past. Just as you’ve evolved and practice evidence-based medicine, our course is designed for the adult learner, is exam-focused and all lectures follow the national ACOG guidelines. Heck, you’ll walk away with loads of every day practice tips, too.

If you’re feeling a bit rusty or you had to repeat your primary written exam, our education specialists, Martin and Jane Jolley, specialize in standardized written exams and have created a program just for those taking their written board exam. Sign up for their Test Taking Skills Workshop being offered at our April course.

Oh, and just in case you think you’re coasting after you pass your written exam, think again. You still have to read the 2017 articles. No rest for the weary!

For ABOG & AOBOG 2017 WRITTEN Exam Candidates

The AOBOG exam is THIS month and the ABOG exam is in just TWO months – YIKES! For those of you finishing your residency, the end of year stuff - projects and deadlines will really kick in next month. So this is probably your last month for hard core studying. Don’t let it slip away.

For the ABOG exam, it is your responsibility to schedule a seat with the Pearson- VUE testing center. Seats are released after March 25^th, but may not be scheduled after June 3^rd. Seats are limited and assigned on a “first come, first served” basis.

We strongly advise taking a BOARD review course. A weekend workshop or evening webinar simply cannot provide enough content. No matter how many questions you go through, you simply can’t answer them well if you lack the foundation. It’s like trying to build a brick wall with only the bricks but not the mortar.

We recognize that there is precious little time for you to wade through the volumes of material. That’s why our April 19-23 Board Review Course provides an exam focused review in accordance with the latest ACOG clinical guidelines. In 43 hours over 5 days, we will review 82 subjects, which historically cover 90% of exam topics! Our faculty is especially knowledgeable in written board exam trends, and each lecture concludes with written questions.

You must be candid as to what you can/cannot accomplish on your study plan. Have you finished the MUST KNOW topics? Our Test Topics Manual is a great resource, as it lists high yield topics and suggested test questions. We recommend you shift to those topics that we don’t have time to cover at the course. These include statistics, ethics, genetics, safety and practice and liability management.

Don’t forget YOU MUST PRACTICE WITH WRITTEN questions at the end of EACH study topic. We have a number of products designed to perfectly complement your content review. Our Written Question Manuals provide over 1000+ questions. Since the test is computerized, ideally you should practice with tests of the same format. ABC, in collaboration with Jolley Test Prep Services, offers Computerized Diagnostic Tests.

For those who have traditionally struggled with written exams, failed the written board exam, or did not score at least 200 on your CREOG in-service exam, you cannot continue with modus operandi. It didn’t work before, so why set yourself up for the same outcome? We have found that knowledge is rarely the problem. You couldn’t have made it this far if that were the case. It’s typically a processing problem. The Jolleys have a brilliantly simple and effective PROCESS with proven success. Their Test Taking Skills Workshop is offered at our April review course.

Answers to LAST month’s written questions:

FPM fecal incontinence question: Answer: D - The anorectal angle is less acute
GYN, abnormal uterine bleeding question: Answer: D - IV estrogen
REI, embryology: Answer: D - Increased serum testosterone

For ABOG 2017 ORAL Exam Candidates

Where do you start in your exam preparation?  Our Ultimate Package pretty has it all who have no idea what they need to prepare for their oral exam.  It provides everything, etc…..

5-day review course. This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  The Case List Workshop, conducted the day prior to the April review course, will help you artfully and strategically compose a sure fire PASS product. The Oral Exam Workshop, conducted the day prior to the September or November review courses, provides strategies specific to the ABOG oral exam.  The Structured Cases Workshop, offered one evening during the September or November course, is a four hour workshop consisting of some quick didactics on exam format and strategy. The majority of the time is devoted to individual and partner exercises.  You also receive lecture notes and a CD comprised of 16 cases with questions and corresponding answer sheets.  Our Comprehensive Case List Review covers up to 2 hours of faculty time devoted to your case list. Additional time is billed at $225 per hour. 3 private 1/2 hr. mock oral exams conducted by an ABC faculty member of your choice.  A one-hour session in Dallas with one of our expert faculty. Consider this a dress rehearsal before your big day.  Individually priced at $3,875 - you save $477.50 by purchasing the Ultimate Package!

The application, copy of your current medical license and application fee of $840 was due on March 15^th, 2017. If you overlooked this menial, but necessary, administrative task, you can still turn it in, but of course now you’ll have to pay a late fee of $345.  If you wait beyond April 15^th, 2017 there is an even steeper late fee of $825. No applications are accepted after April 29^th, 2017. Surely you already have your case list software, but if you do not, then stop everything and order it now from the ABOG website.

Only TWO MONTHS left to complete your collection of cases. At this point, you must be up-to-date with all of your past entries. The clock is ticking. You must now enter cases no less than EVERY WEEK.

Ideally, right after you dictate your operative or delivery notes, complete the hard copy of the case list form. Once a week, enter these cases online. At this point, you should have half of your office patients selected. Plan to complete all 40 categories by the end of May. Remember - you can include only one or two patients per category.

You should now have three binders – one for each of the three sections: OB, GYN and Office. For each GYN patient, compile their case list sheet, H&P, operative notes, pathology reports and discharge summaries.  For all OB patients, keep a file of the prenatal forms, delivery notes, discharge summaries and postpartum notes. For the Office patients, file the case list sheet, appropriate copies of the office visit(s) and supporting labs, imaging studies, etc.

A well-constructed case list makes all the difference in its defense. This is especially important since you are in the debut class who must enter their cases online. Although the entry of cases has changed, the strategy has not. Come to our Case List Construction Workshop, April 18 in Charlotte – the day before the course begins. We’ll show you how to raise your case list to a level head and shoulders above the other candidates. For those who are OCD, order your copy of Pass Your Oral Ob/Gyn Board Exam, 5^th edition, written by Dr. Das. This book provides a complete step-by-step guide.

The ideal time to take your review course is in the spring, as you will be all consumed with constructing your case list from June to August. You won’t find out the month of your exam until July, so you have to assume it could be as early as November. If that’s the case, you only have two months to study. YIKES! We recommend our April 19-23 Board Review Course for an exam focused review. There is precious little time to wade through the volumes of material to figure out what to prioritize. Our faculty members have extensive speaking experience and their lectures are based on ACOG clinical guidelines – duh! the answer guide for the test. They are especially knowledgeable regarding the oral exam, and every lecture concludes with our signature oral exam defense tips. Ideally, complement the content covered at the review course with a workshop devoted to strategic construction of your case list.

 

For AOBOG 2017 ORAL Exam Candidates

Applications for the October 20-21^st, 2017 exam, along with the $3275 exam fee, are due by July 17th, 2017. However, don’t procrastinate. Since AOBOG implemented an exam cap of so many candidates, the cap can, and has been, reached within a couple of months.

For those preparing for their April 21-22 exam, time is short.  Our Osteopathic Oral Exam Webinar is the only webinar in the country that is designed by an osteopathic physician. Dr. Diane Evans DO, FACOOG goes through AOBOG core topics. Since its debut in 2011, 99% of webinar participants have passed their exam! It just ended, but don’t worry, the archives are the next best thing. Each session is strategically grouped into OB, then GYN, then Oncology/Urogynecology.

 If you’re trying to launch your prep for your fall exam, you should attend either our April 19-23 or September 13-17 BOARD Review Course, for an exam focused review. In 2015, AOBOG expanded beyond the traditional ten core topics. Now you’re accountable for a wider range of topics. Did you know our syllabus is highlighted with EACH CORE TOPIC? We also spend an evening dissecting EACH core topic and trying to predict every possible question.

Regardless, you MUST do some mock oral exams. Face-to-face is best, and these are offered at each of the review courses. However, keep that momentum going by scheduling a Telephone Mock Oral exam with one of our seasoned ABC faculty. You can also challenge yourself with our Structured Cases CDs, which are based on just the core topics.

Remember, just 70%!

Chief Residents Planning a Subspecialty Fellowship

Subspecialty fellows are permitted to select 20 patients from their Chief resident year for their off specialty case list. In other words, GYN Oncologists, REI and Urogynecologists will need an OB list and MFMs need a GYN list. Start collecting those cases NOW, while you still have easy access to patient records. To be on the safe side, we recommend you collect at least 30, so you can strategically select the final 20 later. For those patients, keep a file of the following: for the GYN patients, collect the H&Ps, operative notes, pathology reports and discharge summaries. For the OB patients, keep a file of the prenatal forms, delivery notes, discharge summaries and postpartum notes. Don’t worry at all about the office patients, as you may compile these cases only during your fellowship

A word of caution – right now you are at your peak for general OB/GYN knowledge. Believe it or not, two years from now, your knowledge base will regress to that of an intern. Yes it’s true, if you don’t use it, you lose it. So those really cool, esoteric, bizarre, once-in-a-career cases now will be a nightmare to defend later. Your greatest allies are your junior residents. If they can’t easily defend that case, cease and desist and “go fish” for another case.

 

Subspecialty Fellows Planning for their 2017 ABOG General Oral Board Exam

You can now sit for your general oral boards anytime during your fellowship; however, you can only take them once while a fellow.

If you neglected to collect cases in your off specialty from your chief year, you must get back to your residency institution to gather those cases AND enter them into your software. GYN Oncologists, REI and FPMs will need an OB list and MFMs need a GYN list. If you currently have to take call for these off services, you can use those cases.

If you are retrospectively collecting cases, go with your comfort zone. Dang - how could you have forgotten so much in such a short time? Unfortunately it’s true, if you don’t use it, you lose it. Go with the bread-and-butter cases. Remember, this is your general boards. We recommend you chose those cases that reflect high-yield topics. Our Test Topics Manual and the #1 guide, Pass Your Oral Ob/Gyn Board Exam, written by Dr. Das, will both provide excellent step-by-step guidance.

AOBOG Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC) Written Exam

This exam is usually a walk in the park for generalists practicing both obstetrics & gynecology. The breakdown of the OCC exam is as follows:         

               General Obstetrics                               25%

               Maternal Fetal Medicine                      10%

               Gynecology (office and surgery)          40%

               Reproductive Endocrinology                10%

               Gynecologic Oncology                         10%

               Miscellaneous                                        5%

For those preparing for 2018 OCC exam, take the bull by the horn and come to either our September or November course.

For Royal Canadian College 2017 Exam Candidates

This year’s written examination is May 2^nd and 3^rd at your local Centre.

The oral examination is May 16^th. Therefore, do not wait until after the written examination to start practicing for the oral exam !!!

Helpful Hints for Single Answer Questions (SAQs):

• Make sure your handwriting is legible.
• Pay attention to the number of questions and the time allotted for the examination. Manage your time wisely. The examination is long and time is short. You can choose to skip over questions and go back later.
• Choose answers that are concise and direct (do not write an essay!).
• Don’t write more than asked for (if they ask for 3, write 3 answers!)

Helpful Hints for Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

• If you don’t know, take a guess… no penalty.
• Manage your time wisely, you have about 1minute per question.
• If you change your answer, erase the answer COMPLETELY, as the sheet is read by an optical scanner…
• Frequently go back to ensure that the question number and the circle you are filling in are the same. You don’t want to be off by one question, all your answers will be wrong…

 

Subspecialists taking their 2017 ORAL Exam - Good luck on your oral exam!