Issue 28.09
When you visit your doctor or look for a doctor to treat you, you will often see the designation “Board Certified.” What does this mean and should you care?
In the United States there are designated specialties that have a rigorous and prescribed training program to earn certification in that specialty. The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) assists 24 approved medical specialty boards in the development and use of standards in the ongoing evaluation and certification of physicians. If you want to see if your physician’s board certification is a bona-fide specialty you can look on the ABMS web site to see if it is listed and if your physician is board certified. Any other board certification does not have the same standards of training and competency as the boards within the ABMS.
Board certification is obtained in the same specialty as the residency training program that is completed by your physician. In residency training the young physician is proctored and mentored in the skills and knowledge of that specialty by more experienced physicians. After the requirements of the residency are met the physician can take the board certification examination. The examination is frequently composed of a written and oral examination.
In addition to completing years of schooling, fulfilling residency requirements and passing the exams required to practice medicine in the state, your board certified specialist participates in an ongoing process of continuing education to keep current with the latest advances in medical science and technology in his or her specialty as well as best practices in patient safety, quality healthcare and creating a responsive patient-focused environment.
If your doctor is certified by an ABMS Member Board, it means he or she is dedicated to providing exceptional patient care through a rigorous, voluntary commitment to lifelong learning through board certification and ABMS Maintenance of Certification (MOC).
If you medical condition is important, make sure you see a board certified specialist in that field.
Dr. Marcus Peterson is board certified in general and plastic surgery. He has practiced at Center for Advanced Plastic Surgery, 676 S. Bluff Street, Suite 207, St. George, since 2004. He can be reached at 628-2895.