guidance_for_swiss_board_examination_2012.pdf

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Guidance for theSwiss Board Examination inGeneral Internal Medicine

see also the following documents:

Weiterbildungsprogramm vom 1. Januar 2011 zumFacharzt fr Allgemeine Innere Medizin(http://www.sgim.ch/de/weiterbildung/weiterbildungsprogramm/)

Programme de formation postgradue du 1er janvier 2011 pour lesSpcialistes en mdecine interne gnrale(http://www.sgim.ch/fr/formation-postgraduee/programme-de-formation-postgraduee/)

Foundations of Internal Medicine

General Internal Medicine (GIM, since 01.01.2011) is a discipline that offers adult

patients (including adolescents and senior citizens) high quality medical care inprevention, diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of most diseases. GIM guaranteesindividualized medical care of patients with simple or complicated disorders as out-patients (general practice) or in-patients (hospital), in emergency care or long termtreatment. GIM provides assessment, triage and coordination, as a basis for a selectiveand economical implementation of medical technology, referral of patients to specialistsand of hospitalizations. As a discipline of primary health care GIM promotes the healthof the individual and of the community and represents an integrated part of the publichealth service. GIM constitutes the basis for the training of general practitioners,hospital based internists and other medical specialists.

The Swiss Society for General Internal Medicine organizes an annual BoardExamination for GIM. The Swiss Institute for Medical Education of the FMH wasfounded on April 1st 2009 and the regulations of this institute are mandatory for allBoard Examinations (http://www.fmh.ch/bildung-siwf.html http://www.fmh.ch/fr/formation-isfm/formation.html).With the joint program for postgraduate education of the two Societies of Internal andGeneral Medicine (see SZ - BMS 90: 1951f, 2009; journal 50) the examinationprocedure described here will be required for the qualification in General InternalMedicine from 2011 on.Until December 31st 2015 it will be possible to obtain the new title in GIM by completingeither the program of postgraduate education in IM or in GM. The GM examination in its

old form will be offered until 2012. From 2013 on all candidates will have to pass theexam in GIM (see Bauer & Hnggeli: Weiterbildungsprogramm in Allgemeiner Innerer


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Medizin Le programme de formation postgradue en mdecine interne gnrale;SZ BMS 91: 1929ff, 2010; journal 49).

The Board Examination for General Internal Medicine

The Board Examination in General Internal Medicine will be organized at least once ayear and since 2010 consists only of a written test (120 multiple-choice questions inEnglish).It is planned to replace the oral test, which was abolished in 2010, with a continuousformative evaluation. This change requires a certain time, and information will beprovided on the SGIM homepage in good time before it comes into effect.

RegistrationThe exact date of the examination and the registration period are published both in theSchweizerische rztezeitung (SZ) Bulletin des mdecins suisses BMS)(www.saez.ch www.bullmed.ch) and on the websites of the FMH (www.fmh.ch) andthe SGIM/SSIM (www.sgim.ch), from which all registration forms and informationmaterial can be downloaded. The registration of a candidate is considered valid onlyafter payment of the examination fee and the presentation of a copy of a Swiss or BAG-recognized foreign medical diploma (WBO Art 23). It is strongly recommended tocomplete a minimum of two years of clinical training in General Internal Medicine beforeattempting the examination since the clinical experience will contribute greatly to thepreparation for the exam.

Content and form of the examinationThe examination is carried out in English. It tests the knowledge of the candidate in thefield of GIM by means of a multiple-choice test. The content of the test is structured asfollows (the percentage of the different fields may vary slightly):

A General concepts and questionsAverage Number of Questions

1. Prevention Health insurance and social matters Health economics Ethics Statistics Medical technology, incl. laboratory 5

B Questions on specific medical problems

2. Allergy, immunology 5 Rheumatology, bone diseases 10 15

3. General considerations 7 Geriatrics 4

Neurology, psychiatry, psychosomatics 6 Intoxications, side effects, alcoholism 2 19

4. Cardiology 12


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Angiology 2 Hypertension 4 18

5.

Endocrinology, metabolism 8 Nephrology 5 13

6. Gastroenterology, Hepatology 10 Nutrition 2 12

7. Hematology 4 Oncology 6 Infectious diseases 8 18

8. Pneumology 10 Intensive care and emergency Medicine 8 18

9. Dermatology 2 2

Total 120

The questions originate from the Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Programs of theAmerican College of Physicians (MKSAP). About 60% of the questions are taken fromthe last available edition in the year before the examination, the remainder fromprevious editions. On one hand this is necessary to compare the degree of difficulty ofthe examinations of different years on the other hand the exam should not be a simplequestion of memorizing but rather of reflecting. If the candidate is seriously learning oneedition he will also be able to answer the questions from the former editions in asatisfactory manner. Older questions will only be used if the answer still is correct.

Type of questionsThe answers are only from type A positive or A negative (single choice questions):Mark only one answerby circling the appropriate letter:- If the formulation is positive, mark the only correct answer or the most appropriate

answer.- If the formulation is negative, mark the only exception, the only wrong answer,

respectively the answer with the least appropriate content (the negation is writtenin bold characters)

Preparation for the examination

The Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Programs (MKSAP) of the American Collegeof Physicians help the candidates to prepare for the written examination and learn thetechnique of how to answer multiple-choice questions. This program can be obtainedagainst payment from the office of the SGIM/SSMI. It is also recommended to consultone of the usual text books, e.g. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment orHarrisons Principles of Internal Medicine.


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Grading of the Examination (Benotung)

The evaluation of the examination will be carried out by the Institute for MedicalTeaching of the University of Bern. The grading is done according to a previously setpass mark, which varies depending upon the number of questions marked and theirdifficulty (Standardsetzung nach Aganoff: see Norcini J. and Shea J; The Credibility andComparability of Standards, Appl Mesure Edu 10: 39ff, 1997). The pass mark will beindicated on the feedback sheet sent after the examination.

Legal Regulation

Material permitted for use during the examinationThe use of electronic devices such as mobile phones, handheld computers, laptops,etc. is forbidden. Only dictionaries in print format are permitted.In the question booklet, unusual words are translated into French and German and thesupervising personnel will help if you have difficulties understanding a word.

Right to consult the dossier in the event of failure to passIn the event of failure to pass the examination, you have the right to inspect yourexamination documents. The aim is not, however, to allow candidates to learn from theirmistakes. Rather, if you suspect an error on the part of the Examining Board which mayhave affected the result to your disadvantage, consulting the dossier will allow you to

confirm or verify your suspicions.In accordance with Art. 56 LPMd (Law about Medical Professions) and given themultiple-choice nature of the examination, you may only inspect the questions indispute.For all other questions, please refer to the Instruction sheet for appeals against failedexaminations for the title of specialist or for additional certification, which may beviewed on the FMH home page(http://www.fmh.ch/bildung-siwf/weiterbildung_assistenzarzt/facharztpruefungen.html http://www.fmh.ch/fr/formation-isfm/formation_medecins-assistants/examens_de_specialiste.html).Furthermore, the documents are made available solely for the purpose of consultation.

Photocopying or copying them down in their entirety is prohibited. You are permittedonly to take notes for the purposes of filing an appeal.Consultation of the questions in dispute is carried out under the surveillance of a thirdparty who is responsible for drawing up a report on the consultation (date, times,procedure, etc.).

Deadline for appealUnder the terms of Articles 27 and 58ss of the Regulations governing PostgraduateTraining (RFP), you may file an appeal against the decision of the Examining Board withthe Appeal Commission for Postgraduate Medical Titles (CO TFP, c/o Servicejuridique de la FMH, Elfenstrasse 18, Case postale 170, 3000 Berne 15) within 60

days after you have received the detailed results.


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The appeal must be sent to the Appeal Commission in duplicate and in writing (inGerman or French), indicating the grounds and conclusions, citing evidence and

bearing the signature of the plaintiff or his/her representative.If you wish to file an appeal, we advise you to follow the instructions on theaforementioned FMH instruction sheet.If no appeal is filed within the defined deadline, the decision of the Examining Boardshall enter into force and may no longer be challenged or reviewed within the scope ofthe procedure for obtaining the title.

FeesIf a withdrawal from the examination is notified more than 14 days before the date of thewritten examination, the examination fee is reimbursed after a deduction foradministrative charges. Administrative charges also apply if the examination fee has not

been paid yet.If the withdrawal is announced within the 14 days preceding the date ofthe written examination, the full amount remains due, independent of the reason for thewithdrawal, because the administrative workload can no longer be adapted to the newsituation.

Address of the field office Address Examination for specialist

SGIM / SSMI Dr. Urs StrebelPostfach 422 Prsident der Prfungskommission4008 Basel Spital MnnedorfTelefon 061 225 93 30 8708 MnnedorfFax 061 225 93 31 Fax 044 92 30 05E-mail [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

www.sgim.ch (we cannot give any information by phone)

November 2011/ust


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Become a member of the Swiss

Society for General Internal Medicine (SSIM)The SSIM is the most important medical specialtysociety in Switzerland with over 4000 members

The membership offers many advantages and services:

The SGIM/SSMI represents your medical and political interests in the variouscommissions

The SGIM/SSMI informs you on the latest developments via the SSIM Bulletin

The SGIM/SSMI offers the MKSAP training program at a reduced price.

The SGIM/SSMI offers reduced registration fees for the Annual congress and forthe advanced training courses organized by the SSIM.

The SGIM/SSMI offers the mandatory advanced training control free of charge.

The SGIM/SSMI offers free subscription to its various e-mail services.

Cost-free access to PIER (Physicians Information and Education Resource)

A strong medical specialty society protectsYour future join us and become a member!

guidance_for_swiss_board_examination_2012.pdf

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