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FAQs about the mobile platform for the ABS EPA Project

FAQs - ABS EPA Project Mobile Platform

  • EPAs will be managed and administered through a mobile application. Following a thorough review process, the ABS announced in September that it has selected the SIMPL Collaborative to provide the mobile platform for the ABS EPA Project.
  • See what the ABS EPA mobile application looks like and learn how to use it here.

The SIMPL Collaborative will be providing the app and the support for programs as they enroll and use the app to capture EPA assessments.

The ABS is developing a suite of tools to support programs during implementation. These will include offerings of grand rounds, journal clubs, webinars, town halls, and 'on the go' videos to educate and support programs. Real time technical support will also be provided by the SIMPL Collaborative.

No. To assist in implementation, the ABS is underwriting all costs of the app for all general surgery 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 will cover a limited set of core operations along with nonoperative elements of care focused on the essential elements of general surgery. 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 will be providing. The ABS project will utilize a customized and updated 2.0 version of the SIMPL Collaborative's assessment platform, which will be tailored specifically for the EPA assessment model.

Initially yes. The ABS EPA app will run off the updated SIMPL 2 platform, while SIMPL OR will continue to run off the prior version SIMPL Lite platform. At a later point in time, the SIMPL Collaborative plans to move its other products including SIMPL OR over to the updated 2.0 platform.

While we anticipate this will be very rare, if this occurs, the ABS will make available the EPAs for your program and institution to implement through other mechanisms as you choose.

The ABS requires all general surgery programs to begin using this assessment model with the class of residents entering training in July 2023. A wide range of development materials to assist programs in implementation are available on this website. The goal for the first year of implementation is progressive engagement, recognizing that some programs will need added time to navigate their data use agreement with the SIMPL Collaborative, amongst other milestones of progress.

Data collected through the ABS EPA mobile app will be securely housed by the SIMPL Collaborative and owned at the individual program level. The ABS will ask only for overall utilization reports from the SIMPL Collaborative so that we can support programs in successful implementation. All candidates who apply to take the ABS Qualifying Exam in 2028 and thereafter will be required to turn in a composite profile of their performance on all EPAs as part of their QE application.

Engagement dashboards will be provided soon after implementation begins to help programs gauge and optimize utilization. As data sets accumulate, more detailed user group specific analytic dashboards will be developed by the fall of 2023 to allow residents, faculty, CCC's, and programs to employ the data gathered in collated formative and CCC-based summative assessment.
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