# Revolutionizing Physician Certification Through Digital Learning BenchPrep helped McGraw-Hill increased user adoption and engagement for online learning by ten fold since year 1 of partnership. [Download PDF](https://3653985.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/3653985/Case%20Studies/ABEM%20Case%20Study/ABEMs%20case%20study.pdf) ## Challenge ### Keeping Up with a Changing Marketing Since its establishment in 1979, the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) has been a trailblazer dedicated to maintaining top standards in Emergency Medicine. With over 44,000 board-certified Emergency Medicine physicians and approximately [150 million](https://www.abem.org/public/about-abem/value-of-abem-certified-physicians) annual visits to emergency departments in the United States, it is crucial to ensure that ABEM-certified emergency physicians remain at the forefront of medical knowledge. Historically, ABEM faced challenges in the certification and recertification processes. Physicians had to endure lengthy exams held in external testing centers, causing disruptions to their daily routines. Moreover, these examinations sometimes felt disconnected from the realities of day-to-day medical practice. In 2016, ABEM initiated the vision for MyEMCert, a transformational technology solution aimed at revolutionizing the certification experience for Emergency Medicine physicians. ## The Road to MyEMCert Recognizing the importance of a smooth and effective transition, ABEM first decided to launch a pilot program with 1,500 physicians. This pilot was an important milestone in assessing the viability and impact of MyEMCert and the response was overwhelmingly positive, with physicians praising the flexibility and convenience offered by the new certification process. In 2021, MyEMCert was officially launched, introducing eight comprehensive Emergency Medicine modules, aiming to streamline the certification process and provide physicians with a more efficient, accessible, and engaging experience. ### “We had a high sign-up rate among physicians for the pilot program. They appreciated the flexibility of completing it on their own time and valued the instant, question-level feedback that enhanced their learning experience. Even if they got the question right, they could read the rationale for the answer and could immediately apply that knowledge on their next shift. One of the more important outcomes is that this approach significantly reduced stress levels, taking some of the anxiety out of the certification journey.” **AJ Wolf** **‍‍** Marketing Manager, ABEM ## The MyEMCert Advantage:
 A Holistic Approach to Certification MyEMCert offers topic-specific self-paced modules encompassing relevant subjects in Emergency Medicine. After each module, they receive immediate feedback, including pass/fail results, correct answers, and detailed rationales, creating a comprehensive learning experience. This user-friendly and flexible approach eliminates the need for grueling five-hour exams every ten years, as the modules are conveniently completed online. To maintain ABEM certification, physicians must pass four modules every five years, promoting lifelong learning and staying current with knowledge advancements. ### Results ## MyEMCert's Transformative Impact
and the Call for Industry-Wide Innovation The remarkable outcomes of MyEMCert demonstrate its effectiveness and ABEM's commitment to advancing certification in Emergency Medicine. By 2022, ABEM phased out in-person continuing certification exams, further streamlining the certification process and embracing digital accessibility. Early in 2023, the first two modules were launched for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) subspecialty continuing certification, ushering
in the era of "MyEMSCert" and expanding assessment opportunities. ### “We saw BenchPrep as a technology partner for ABEM who understood the learning aspects of our program. Our requirements included a seamless integration with our physician portal, maintaining our item bank for test questions, a time-limited and forward-only navigation assessment, access to resources during the test, and providing detailed answer rationales. BenchPrep emerged as the ideal partner that met–and exceeded–this criteria.” **Michele Miller** **‍** Associate Executive Director, Systems & Technology, ABEM MyEMCert's success led to: - The development of 8 comprehensive emergency medicine modules in 2021. - Phasing out in-person exams in 2022. - Introduction of two new modules in 2023, expanding assessment opportunities. - Ongoing commitment to high standards in Emergency Medicine certification. ABEM remains committed to setting high standards in Emergency Medicine and health care certification. They will be introducing new certifications and programs soon, such as MyToxCert (for Medical Toxicology subspecialty continuing certification), to ensure their physicians have the latest knowledge and expertise. The transformation brought about by ABEM’s partnership with BenchPrep and the creation of MyEMCert has redefined certification standards in the health care sector. MyEMCert stands as a testament to the potential of technology in making certification efficient, accessible, and engaging. ## Emergency Medicine Physician Feedback on MyEMCert It overall was a really, really positive experience... I never ever thought I would say that. But I actually enjoyed going through the process of rectifying. M.D. from Boston, MA " The immediate feedback was awesome. Taking the test in this format was very educational. The answer descriptions, whether I got the answer right or wrong were extremely helpful. This format is much superior to the old exam taken every 10 years which did not provide real feedback or educational value. **ABEM hit a home run with this one**.” Anonymous M.D. " I certainly was surprised with the amount of information that I could bring back to practice just from looking through [modules] it. M.D. from Arlington Heights, IL