Anesthesiology Continuing Education (ACE) is a new ASA continuing medical education (CME) product designed to facilitate lifelong learning and prepare anesthesiologists for Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA). MOCA is the new 10-year process consisting of lifelong learning and self-assessment, ongoing assessment of professional standing, periodic assessments of practice performance and successful completion of an examination on current knowledge for American Board of Anesthesiology diplomates with time-limited certificates or others who wish to undergo voluntary recertification.

ACE is a CME opportunity that does not require travel. With ACE, practitioners can assess the status of their knowledge, identify areas for improvement and prepare for written anesthesiology recertification examinations. The ACE program is based on established knowledge and is designed to be part of a lifelong learning program. Edwin A. Bowe, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the ACE program, has assembled an outstanding editorial board and experienced question writers to develop this high-quality product. The ACE Editorial Board members are John G. Augoustides, M.D., Regina Y. Fragneto, M.D., Elizabeth Herrera, M.D., Leslie C. Jameson, M.D., Patricia H. Petrozza, M.D., and Mark S. Wallace, M.D.

Currently no other CME programs allow participants to assess areas of strengths and weaknesses in accepted anesthesiology knowledge or target ongoing education in these areas. Whereas the existing ASA Self-Education and Evaluation (SEE) program is an excellent tool for keeping up with “emerging knowledge” on the latest developments in anesthesia, the new ACE program addresses the core knowledge of the specialty.

Scheduled for an October 2004 release, the ACE program initially will be available in booklet form only, although an electronic version is expected in the future. Upon completion of the questions, an extensive discussion for each correct-versus-incorrect answer is included. References also are provided for further study.

Each issue of ACE will consist of 100 questions, answers, discussions and references. Subscribers complete the program at their own pace and return the answer sheet for scoring. Up to 30 hours of category 1 credit toward the American Medical Association’s Physician’s Recognition Award may be claimed for each 100-question issue. Each physician should claim only the number of hours actually spent in the educational activity. The 2004 debut volume will consist of a single issue; beginning in 2005, the format will consist of two issues, one each in April and October.

ASA is accepting subscriptions for the initial 2004 single issue, the 2005 standard double issue, or both. Please contact the Publications Department at the ASA Executive Office at (847) 825-5586 or by fax at 847-825-1692, to request additional information and a subscription form. Subscription forms also can be downloaded from the ASA Web site at <www.ASAhq.org> under “Continuing Education Resources.”