General Description
This examination will be a proctored 5-hour examination consisting of multiple choice questions of the "one best answer" type. There will be a total of 200 items on the examination. The HPM Examination will cover the broad aspects of HPM that specialists practicing in the field are expected to know. The examination will assess the candidates knowledge and clinical judgment in aspects of HPM required to perform at a high level of competence.
The content areas covered and their relative proportions on the exam are as follows:
Medical Content Category |
Relative Percentage |
|---|---|
| Approach to care | 9.5% |
| Psychosocial and spiritual considerations | 10% |
| Impending death | 8% |
| Grief and bereavement | 6% |
| Medical management | 44% |
| Communication and teamwork | 6.5% |
| Ethical and legal decision making | 8% |
| Prognostication and natural history of serious history | 8% |
Certificates
Those who passed the examination will receive a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Hospice and Palliative Medicine by their primary Board. All certificates will be time-limited and will be valid for ten (10) years from the date of certification. The diplomate must maintain a valid certification certificate in their primary specialty in order for the Certificate of Added Qualifications in HPM to remain valid. The HPM certificate will become invalid the date that the diplomate's primary or subspecialty certificate becomes invalid. The Certificate of Added Qualifications in HPM will be awarded after the AOA Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists gives final approval of the examination process for each candidate. This approval process will take approximately six months following the notification of successful completion of the examination. On written request and payment of $200, candidates may obtain rescoring of the examination within a year of receiving the results. The answer sheets of candidates will be destroyed thirty-six months after administration of the examination.
Preparation
The Board can make no specific recommendation about study methods, review courses, etc., to prepare for the examination, however, extensive self study of HPM in texts and journals and participation in continuing medical education programs and review courses in HPM should be useful.
Fees
The application/examination fee will be $1200.
Scoring and Results
Your final score is determined by the number of questions answered correctly. There is no penalty for guessing. The minimum passing score reflects an absolute standard developed by the AOA Boards participating in this conjoint examination. After the exam is given, it will be psychometrically analyzed and evaluated to ensure the reliability of individual results. Your results will be released and a score report will be mailed to you within 90 days of the date of the exam. Scores are provided through mail only. Copies of your score report will be maintained for one year from the date they were released. During that period you may obtain a duplicate copy of your score report upon written request and a fee of $25. Questions regarding exam results and any appeals of the examination must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the date results were released.
©2009 American Osteopathic Conjoint Committee of Hospice and Palliative Medicine