Improving Your Medical Practice

Demonstrating Quality

The quality improvement (QI) component of the Continuing Certification (CC) Program is a simple documentation of the incremental improvements you’re always making to your practice or your processes. Your QI project should follow the well-known QI Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology that involves identifying a problem, taking a baseline measurement, setting a goal, making a change, and measuring again to see if you reached your goal.

Not familiar with QI or the PDSA methodology? Not to worry – our options guide you each step of the way. And if you need ideas or assistance, use our QI Project Wizard (below). Options to fulfill the QI component include products available from other organizations, programs that may already be part of your organization’s offerings, and the popular self-directed QI project option from the ABPMR.

When you have a project ready to go, use the ABPMR QI Project Submission Form.

QI Requirement

How Many Projects Should I Complete?

Nearly all diplomates are now in a certification cycle in which one project is required every five years, along with the other five-year requirements in Lifelong Learning and Assessment. See below for a chart illustrating most diplomates’ every-five-years requirements:

For detailed information about your current cycle requirements, please sign in to your secure Certification Dashboard.

QI Project Options

Options to Complete a QI Project for CC Credit

You have several options for completing a QI project for continuing certification credit; see the list below for descriptions and links.

Name Cost Available CME Estimated Completion Time More Information
ABPMR Self-Directed QI Project

Topic chosen by diplomate relevant to his/her practice

 Free N/A
  • Dependent on project and review time
  • Review can take up to 8 weeks
  • NOTE: Sometimes reviewers can request revisions, which can add more time
Pre-Formatted QI Project: AAPM&R Options
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis
  • Low Back Pain
  • Osteoporosis
  • Stroke

Member: Free

Non-Member: $275

 20
  • Dependent on project
  • Process includes a recommended 30-day period for data gathering and analysis
Pre-Formatted QI Project: AANEM Options
  • Ulnar Neuropathy

Member: $125

Non-Member: $250

 20
  • Dependent on project
  • Process includes 30-day mandatory lockout period for data gathering and analysis
Portfolio Program
 Per institution Per institution Per institution
Patient-Centered Specialty Practice Recognition

via National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA)

 Per NCQA N/A Per NCQA and institution
Practice Accreditation in MSK Ultrasound Guided Interventional Procedures

via the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

 Varies N/A
  • Dependent on project and review time
  • Review can take up to 8 weeks

ABPMR QI Project Wizard

Wondering what to do for your Quality Improvement (QI) project?

Answer a few simple questions for suggestions and resources for a project related to your practice area.