Thank you for your interest in the Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) certification.

ABQAURP's mission is to improve the overall quality of health care that is provided to the consuming public.

Why ABQAURP Certification?
Certification by the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians, Inc. (ABQAURP) demonstrates your commitment to quality. Physicians and health care professionals who are Certified in Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) have shown their proactive leadership, integrity, and knowledge of patient safety and risk prevention to government agencies, insurers, and the public. Recognized by government, ministers, administrators, insurers, and purchasers as experts in Health Care Quality and Management, ABQAURP Diplomates are distinguished by their superior skills in analysis, review, care management, and other areas of health care administration.

The annual certification exam application deadline is August 1. It is imperative that HCQM applications be complete, notarized, and submitted prior to this date. The 2010 exam window is September 15 through November 15.

ABQAURP is the only Health Care Quality and Management organization with an examination developed, administered, and evaluated through the National Board of Medical Examiners'^® (NBME^®)testing expertise. ABQAURP and the NBME collaborate on the planning, development, analysis, and scoring of the certification examination. The NBME’s involvement in the certification process reflects ABQAURP's dedication to establishing Health Care Quality and Management as a specialty with definable standards upheld by knowledgeable experts.

Exam Eligibility
To be eligible to sit for the exam, International candidates must meet the same high eligibility and credentialing standards as U.S. candidates, including a working knowledge of English. The ABQAURP Certification Exam is given in the English language at Prometric™ testing sites throughout the world.

Non-US physicians and other health care professionals must meet eligibility and credentialing standards. Once eligibility requirements are met, candidates may proceed with the credentialing process. Sitting for the HCQM examination is permitted while the credentialing process is pending. Diplomate status will be awarded pending confirmation of final credential report. Credentialing is provided through PlanetHospital, Inc. PlanetHospital will validate your credentials through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) International Credentials Services (EICS). Once you have been credentialed and have successfully completed the HCQM certification exam, you may be eligible to join the PlanetHospital network.

Since 2002, PlanetHospital has been sending patients to world-class surgeons and hospitals for state of the art affordable medical care. PlanetHospital has worked with insurance providers, allowing their enrollees to use their coverage to get medical care abroad. ABQAURP physician certification candidates may also have the added benefit of becoming a member of the PlanetHospital Network. Most non-US Physicians and Dentists who successfully complete the HCQM certification examination and who work in an ISQUA (International Society for Quality in Health Care) approved facility will be eligible to join the PlanetHospital Network.

Credential Verification
ABQAURP/PlanetHospital require physicians seeking medical licensure/registration, who completed their medical education outside the USA, to submit copies of certain documents to the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) International Credentials Services (EICS). EICS will obtain primary source verification of the authenticity of these documents from the entity that issued these documents to you.

You will be required to submit copies of the following documents for EICS verification:

• Medical School Diploma
• Medical School Transcript
• Medical Licensure/Registration Certificate(s) in other jurisdictions
• Postgraduate Training Certificate(s)
• Completed EICS application (Incomplete forms will not be processed)

As you apply for HCQM Certification, you will additionally need to complete the EICS Application for Verification of Credentials and send it to ABQAURP with the required documents, passport-sized photographs, and payment of USD $300.00.

The time to complete the EICS verification process depends on the internal processing times of the institutions that issued your credentials. You are advised to contact your institutions and request that they promptly complete and return verifications to EICS. Expediting your initial application to ABQAURP is also strongly recommended. EICS will request that an authorized institution official complete and return the verification request form directly to EICS.

After verification of all the required credentials has been obtained, an EICS report will be issued to PlanetHospital. The EICS report will contain your name, biographic information, and the medical credentials that have been verified. This report will be forwarded to ABQAURP. Upon approval and successful completion of the HCQM exam, you are eligible to become a Diplomate of ABQAURP.