LEAD Program MDT Requirement
One of the most exciting elements of the new LEAD program is its process of continuous, ongoing learning. The LEAD program is not a pass/fail examination, and how a Diplomate answers quarterly assessment questions does not produce a pass/fail score. Instead, ABFAS uses the science of Measurement Decision Theory (MDT) to analyze the probability that a Diplomate is keeping up with topics relevant to the practice of foot and ankle surgery. We refer to this probability as the Diplomate’s MDT p-value.
How LEAD MDT Works
All Diplomates start the program with the same initial MDT p-value: 0.95 (95 percent). A Diplomate’s MDT p-value will move up and down as they participate in the LEAD program, depending on how they answer each question and the difficulty of each question.
It’s the Diplomate’s job to keep their p-value at or above the current minimum: an MDT p-value of 0.1 (ten percent). Anything lower indicates a probability of less than ten percent that a Diplomate is keeping up to date on their knowledge. Each year, ABFAS will review—and potentially update—this standard.
