Simulation for maintenance of certification in anesthesiology: the first two years.

The ultimate goal of physician education is the application of knowledge and skills to patient care. The Maintenance of Certification (MOC) for Anesthesiologists program incorporates mannequin-based simulation to help realize this goal. Results from the first 2 years of experience suggest that 583 physician participants transferred knowledge and skills from their simulated experiences into real-world practice. Participants consistently found the experience educationally valuable and clinically relevant, and reported that it led to changes in practice. This first experience with mannequin-based simulation for MOC indicates that physicians accept this teaching modality, many with enthusiasm. Simulation education addresses many of the identified intentions of current continuing medical education (CME) and can help educators realize goals for educating physician-learners.