Editorial

From Paper to Precision: Arab Board of Health Specializations' Cross-Border Digital Assessment Journey

Omar Al-Rawas, Sabeeh Mashhadani, Jawad Rasheed

The Arab Board of Health Specializations (ABHS) has embarked on a journey that goes beyond digitizing exams; it represents a transformation rooted in the pursuit of healthcare excellence. ABHS’s shift from traditional paper-based assessments to a sophisticated, cross-border digital platform underscores a forward-thinking vision that aims to raise the standard of medical evaluation across the Arab world. At the heart of this transformation lies a commitment to ensuring that every professional evaluated by ABHS embodies the rigor, readiness, and adaptability essential in today’s healthcare landscape.

This journey traces back to 2019, when a pivotal workshop led by Professor Nigel Bax sparked a shared vision for modernizing medical assessments. Under the leadership of Secretary-General Prof. Omar Al-Rawas, ABHS laid the groundwork for a centralized digital framework capable of uniting thousands of candidates, trainers, and council members across borders. Within just a year, this vision was realized with the introduction of ABHS’s first computerized knowledge exam for dermatology, showcasing the feasibility of large-scale digital assessments. Since then, over 27,000 trainees have benefited from the platform, experiencing a monumental shift in how their skills and knowledge are evaluated.

Building this digital ecosystem has demanded extensive investment in both infrastructure and people. ABHS has equipped 18 testing centers across multiple countries, providing the capability for up to 1,600 candidates to sit for exams simultaneously. Recognizing that technology alone cannot sustain this transformation, ABHS has dedicated itself to developing expertise, training 52 subject matter experts in areas such as item writing, blueprinting, and psychometric analysis. This investment in skills reinforces the integrity of the exam process and fosters ongoing improvement.

ABHS’s digital advancements extend beyond knowledge assessments. In 2022, ABHS automated its clinical exams, creating a tailored platform for real-time management of clinical scenarios. This innovative approach, applied across 25 exams in four specialties, has raised the standard for clinical assessments, allowing ABHS to administer reliable, multi-location exams that align with the realities of modern healthcare.

At the core of ABHS’s digital transformation lies a powerful data analytics capability that supports continuous refinement of assessments. By utilizing cohesive blueprinting and unified psychometric analysis, ABHS has ensured that every exam serves as a comprehensive measure of candidate competence. This approach eliminates the need for merging scores from separate papers, instead allowing each exam to function as a cohesive, precise evaluation.

Through its commitment to accessible, secure, and adaptable assessment, ABHS has created a system that brings together thousands of candidates across the Arab world. An ABHS evaluation now stands as a mark of global medical competency, reflecting a commitment to high standards in healthcare practice. Today, ABHS is not only a leader in digital assessment but also a model for international healthcare evaluation.

This journey marks the beginning of a new era in medical evaluation, where collaboration, adaptability, and rigorous standards will continue to shape the future of healthcare across borders.

References

1. Arab Board of Health Specializations. (2022). ExamSoft Case Study: ABHS. Retrieved from https://www.arab-board.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/ExamSoft%20Case%20Study%20ABHS.pdf

2. Speedwell Software. (August 6, 2024). INNOVATING OSCEs: How the Arab Board Set New Standards in Medical Certification. Retrieved from https://www.speedwellsoftware.com/casestudies/innovating-osces-how-the-arab-board-set-new-standards/