American Board of Radiology releases new guide detailing ins and outs of remote exams
The American Board of Radiology just released new details on its remote examination process as the doc-certification group shifts to a virtual test-taking environment amid the pandemic.
ABR said it has received several questions about the transition recently and in response, the Tucson, Arizona-based nonprofit published guidelines on Thursday. The document includes crucial info including where exams may be taken, and what’s allowed in the room on the day of a test.
“You assume full responsibility for ensuring your computer setup meets the requirements for remote exams,” the board emphasized in its Remote Exam Basics guide. “ABR staff are not able to provide technical support regarding individual setup for remote exams,” it added later.
Along with basic computer requirements, the guide also addresses performing a monitor self-check, along with where radiologists may take the exam. The space should be away from other people, free of background noise or interruptions, and offer a clear workspace. ABR noted that books or notes, other individuals, cellphones, headsets, cameras, watches and calculators are not permitted in the room.
“If location interruptions are anticipated to be frequent or prolonged, arrangements should be made to use a different location to take the exam,” the board of radiology advised. “Brief/sporadic interruptions could occur unexpectedly. In those cases, ABR senior staff will do a post-exam review to determine if the interruptions had potentially significant impact on the exam.”
ABR first announced plans to transition to virtual exams back in June, following intense pressure from the field. The diagnostic radiology and interventional core exams are slated to run remotely in February.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.