It’s Labor Day 2013 – and I’m actually off work on this holiday! Kind of…

As a board-certified emergency physician, I am responsible for maintaining a certain level of education throughout the life of my certification. In addition to the 50 of hours of continuing education that I must obtain every year, the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) dictates a number of other items that must be completed before I take the next certification exam (which occurs every 10 years). One of those things is a number of yearly tests – called the “Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment” (LLSA) test. This test is based on a number (12-15) of medical journal articles that ABEM has deemed topical or important to review. A list is published each year and it is expected that the articles be read and then one is to take the test (after paying the fee, of course).

My next certification test is in 2017; I’m currently working on the 2012 articles. Fortunately, several study guides are published that provide the articles and outline discussions to better prepare for the test.

So, on this Labor Day, I am kicking back in the sunroom with some soft music and the LLSA Study Guide – here’s hoping the coffee keeps me awake.