EPA Mobile Platform FAQs
About the technology
Frequently asked questions about the ABS EPA App™.
The SIMPL Collaborative has developed the ABS EPA App™ for general surgery training programs.
The Firefly Foundation has developed the ABS EPA App™ for vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, complex general surgical oncology, and surgical critical care training programs.
Each company currently manages the technology support for the respective programs as they enroll and use the app to capture EPA assessments.
Due to the very specific and varied needs of the remaining ABS specialty areas, we felt that it was in the best interest of the specialty to collaborate with Firefly for the development of the specialty-specific application. This will allow us to use the information that we have learned from general surgery for each specific specialty area.
The ABS EPA App™ for general surgery residency programs, powered by SIMPL, is available for download via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
The ABS EPA App™ for specialty surgical training programs programs, powered by Firefly, is available via web install at epas.fireflylab.org. Note that this version of the app is a is a mobile application that users will install a shortcut for on their home screen via their mobile device browser. It is NOT a typical mobile app that is downloaded from any app store.
Specific browsers are recommended for the best user experience while accessing the ABS EPA App™, powered by Firefly:
- Mobile device: Google Chrome or Apple Safari
- Desktop computer: Google Chrome
The ABS has developed a suite of tools to support programs during implementation. These resources include grand rounds, webinars, town halls, and ‘on the go’ videos to educate and support programs, infographics, user guides, implementation checklists, and additional related materials. Real-time technical support will also be provided by app developers.
No. To assist in implementation, the ABS is underwriting all costs of the app for all ABS-related surgical training programs nationwide.
No. Programs may continue to subscribe to the SIMPL operative assessment platform via a separate contract with the SIMPL Collaborative. The ABS EPA App™ covers a limited set of core operations along with nonoperative elements of care focused on the essential elements of each specialty area. The SIMPL OR app covers the full range of operations reflected in the ACGME operative case log, and does not include nonoperative care elements.
No. Programs may subscribe to the SIMPL OR platform directly with the SIMPL Collaborative through a subscription agreement, which is separate from and not included with the EPA platform package that the ABS is providing. The ABS project utilizes a customized and updated 2.0 version of the SIMPL Collaborative’s assessment platform, which has been tailored specifically for the EPA assessment model.
Yes, there are two separate versions of the ABS EPA App™, one used for the assessment of residents in general surgery training programs, and one used for the assessment of trainees in vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, complex general surgical oncology, and surgical critical care training programs.
While we anticipate this will be very rare, if this occurs, the ABS has made available the EPAs for programs and institutions to implement through other mechanisms as they choose, but they will need to collect data via locally available electronic or other methods. Alternate tools must be approved by and developed in conjunction with the ABS
Trainees from programs so affected will still be required to turn in a composite EPA performance profile when they apply to take any written ABS initial certification examination.
The ABS required that all general surgery programs started using this assessment model with the class of residents that began training in July 2023. All applicants to the 2028 General Surgery Qualifying Exam (GSQE) will be required to turn in a composite profile across all EPAs when they apply for the exam.
Implementation for vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, and complex general surgical oncology is expected began on August 1, 2025. Implementation for surgical critical care is expected to begin in Fall 2025.
A wide range of development materials to assist programs in implementation are available in the EPA Resources section of the ABS website.
Data collected through the ABS EPA App™ is securely housed by the respective app developer and owned at the individual program level. The ABS asks only for overall utilization reports from the app developers so that we can support programs in successful implementation.
All applicants to written ABS initial certification examinations will be required to turn in a composite profile across all EPAs when they apply for the exam beginning with the:
- Surgical Critical Care: 2027 SCC CE
- General Surgery: 2028 GSQE
- Complex General Surgical Oncology: 2028 CGSO QE
- Pediatric Surgery: 2028 PSQE
- Vascular Surgery: 2029 VSQE
Engagement dashboards are available to help programs gauge and optimize utilization. More detailed user group-specific analytic dashboards have been released to allow residents, faculty, CCC’s, and programs to employ the data gathered in collated formative and CCC-based summative assessment.