Self-assessment of practice performance: development of the ABIM Practice Improvement Module (PIM).

Background: Quality measurement and improvement in practice are requirements for Maintenance of Certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties boards and a component of many pay for performance programs.

Objective: To describe the development of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Practice Improvement Module (PIM) and the average performance of ABIM diplomates who have completed the Preventive Cardiology PIM.

Design: Observational study of self-administered practice quality improvement.