Evaluation of clinical competence in hematology training programs

The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) has called on directors of hematology training programs to establish systems to evaluate, document, and substantiate those components of overall clinical competence considered essential for certification in the subspecialty. Many of these can be assessed only by repeated direct observations. In particular, proficiency is now required in the preparation of blood smears, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, administration of chemotherapy, management of indwelling vascular access, lumbar puncture with chemotherapy, bleeding time, phlebotomy, and exchange transfusion. The goal of this expanded evaluation program is to ensure that the public and the profession can identify, through certification, physicians with demonstrated excellence in hematology.