ABPS Board Certification: a Commitment to Exceptional Patient Care
If there is one quality that defines a physician who has achieved board certification through a Member Board of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), it is an unyielding commitment to providing patients the best care possible.
To that end, the ABPS has established stringent eligibility rules for applicants, meaning only the finest physicians with the deepest level of dedication to their medical field even qualify to attempt to achieve ABPS board certification. And once the first hurdle of eligibility has been cleared, there remains the challenge of the exam itself. The exams, whether written, oral, or simulation, all are clinically based and developed using the most rigorous standards in the industry. Once someone has earned ABPS board certification, there is no room to doubt that he or she demonstrates a mastery of the core knowledge and skills required to provide exceptional patient care in a particular specialty.
Exceptional Medical Care as Defined by the ABPS
What does “exceptional” care mean? For ABPS physicians, it means:
- Adhering to the ABPS Medical Code of Ethics
- Honestly assessing the existing shortcomings in the health care system and working hard to find practical solutions
- Maintaining open communication with peers in the chosen specialty in order to share and implement best practices
- Advocating publicly for the highest level of patient care
- Placing patients first, and not the business of medicine
Board Certification in Emerging Medical Specialties
Another aspect of “exceptional care” is the attention paid to emerging public health issues. At the ABPS, we’re fully committed to innovation when it comes to delivering medical care. After assessing recurring needs in the medical industry, we’ve developed several Member Boards that offer certification in emerging medical specialties. For example, through the Board of Certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics (BCFMO), we have supported the need in rural areas for obstetricians by giving family medicine doctors a nationally recognized way to prove that they have high-level skills in surgical obstetrics care. Likewise, Member Boards such as the American Board of Disaster Medicine (ABODM), the American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM) provide opportunities for physicians to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in vital and fast-growing specialties.
ABPS Board Certification: A Model for the Healthcare Industry
At the ABPS, our emphasis is not so much on the business side of medicine, as it is the treatment and care of our patients. If you would like to learn more about earning ABPS board certification in your specialty, contact us today. We would be happy to give you information regarding our eligibility requirements as well as the benefits of becoming a member of a community dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care.