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Hospital Medicine Eligibility

Effective November 1, 2008

To be eligible for certification in Hospital Medicine through the American Board of Hospital Medicine, the applicant must:

  1. Submit a Hospital Medicine application form complete with required application processing fee, two (2) passport-size photographs taken within the last 90 days, and a notarized signature.
  2. Be in conformity with the Code of Ethics of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS); be known in his/her community as an ethical member of the profession, and be an active specialist in Hospital Medicine.
  3. Be a graduate of a recognized college of medicine confirmed by a copy of an allopathic/osteopathic degree or a letter of verification from the institution where the degree was earned.  In the case of foreign medical schools, an English translation of the document is also required.  Graduates of foreign medical schools must also include a copy of their Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Certificate. Canadian medical schools and medical training programs are considered equivalent to U.S. medical schools and medical training programs.
  4. Verify active staff privileges by means of an originally signed leer (letter shall include a detailed list of active privileges and the period of service) from one Chief of Department of the following:
    1. Chief of Department
    2. Chief of Staff
    3. Chair of Credentialing Committee
  5. All applicants must have completed residency training in a program approved by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association, or the College of Family Practice of Canada (CFPC), or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (RCPSC) and deemed acceptable to the American Board of Hospital Medicine. Such training must include substantial and identifiable training in Hospital Medicine as determined by the American Board of Hospital Medicine and approved by the ABPS. The ABHM Credential Committee will also consider physicians applying with other credentials so long as:
    1. The candidate provides documented reasons for why he/she merits special consideration, as long as the candidate meets or exceeds existing approved guidelines.
    2. The candidate’s credentials include substantial and identifiable training and experience in Hospital Medicine as judged satisfactory by the American Board of Hospital Medicine and approved by the ABPS as further outlined in Item 8.
  6. Hold a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States, or its territories, and submit copies of all licenses. License(s) must include date of expiration.
  7. Submit current curriculum vitae which includes medical school experiences and degrees earned in chronological order.
  8. Be qualified under one (1) of the following:
    1. Current Board Certification in Family Practice, Internal Medicine or Emergency Medicine by ABMS, ABPS, AOA.
    2. Eligible to be certified by the College of Family Practice of Canada (CFPC), or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (RCPSC).
    3. Other Board Certifications may be considered on an individual basis.
    4. Have completed an approved ACGME, AOA, the College of Family Practice of Canada (CFPC), or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (RCPSC) residency in Family Practice, Internal Medicine or Emergency Medicine.
    5. Have completed an ABHM approved fellowship program, or be an instructor in Hospital Medicine. The ABHM Credentials Committee will consider physicians applying under this option on a case-by-case basis.The ABPS accepts all residencies accepted by the College of Family Practice of Canada (CFPC), or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). ABPS accepts all residencies approved by ACGME, AOA, or RCPSC. It should be noted that the ABPS accepts ALL medical residencies approved by the RCPSC, including approved residencies outside Canada.
    6. Canadian graduates who are eligible to sit for College of Family Practice of Canada (CFPC) exams, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (RSPSC) exams.
  9. Provide verification of having admitted and managed a minimum of 50 patients in the last twelve (12) consecutive months and verification that 50% of practice is comprised of hospital medicine patient care.
  10. Submit three (3) original letters of recommendation from Diplomates of a nationally- recognized board (USA and Canada), either allopathic or osteopathic. Letters of recommendation must be current (dated no more than one year prior to the date the application is received by ABPS) and on letterhead stationery, which includes a telephone number. Letters submitted on plain paper without an address or telephone number of the signatory are not acceptable. The ABHM requires original letters; copies not acceptable. The ABHM recommends that the letters be sent to the applicant for inclusion with other application documents.The ABPS accepts all letters of recommendation accepted by the College of Family Practice of Canada (CFPC),or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). ABPS accepts all letters of recommendation approved by ACGME, AOA, or RCPSC.
  11. Submit a documented report of a minimum of six (6) hospital medicine cases for which the physician had the lead management role. The case reports must be no older than twelve (12) months from the date the candidate’s application for certification is received by ABPS.
  12. All physicians must complete a self-query of the National Practitioner Data Bank and submit a sealed (unopened envelope) copy of the report as part of the application process. The report need not be submitted with the application but must be provided in order for the applicant to be approved to take the written examination. For information on performing a self-query of the Bank, go the National Practitioner Data Bank website at http://npdb-hipdb.hrsa.gov for information.All Canadian physicians must request and submit a testament statement from each Province in which a license is held, verifying that there have been no disciplinary actions against the applicant.
  13. All physicians must allow ABPS to perform a background check, attested by initialing the appropriate line on the application form.
  14. All physicians must submit the signed candidate appeal form.
  15. The physician must be ACLS Certified at the time of application and submit copy of current card.
  16. Payment of appropriate fees. To view the fee schedule, click here.

To have an application considered by the ABHM Credentials Committee, all application documents must be compiled in a notebook.  The ABHM recommends that the applicant keep a copy of all application documents submitted to the ABPS.

Case Report Requirements

The applicant must submit four (4) separately compiled copies of six (6) case reports in the following format:

  1. Case reports must be typewritten. Photocopies of typewritten case reports are acceptable.
  2. Case reports must be double-spaced on standard 8.5″ x 11″ white paper.
  3. Case reports must be in a hard, report style binder, or a three-ringed notebook.
  4. The applicant must sign each case report.
  5. An index shall be placed at the front of the reports indicating the type of case (diagnosis) and the page number on which the case can be found. To view sample index and verification form, click here.
  6. Confirmation of the validity of the reports by hospital administrator, medical records director, or whomever performs such duties at the facility. This must be on official letterhead verifying that you were the physician treating the patient in each case on the date stated. If the applicant’s cases reflect work at more than one institution, then separate letters must be submitted verifying the cases from each institution. This validation must be notarized and signed. (Refer to sample index/verification form.)
  7. Case reports shall contain all of the following information:
    1. For patient #, list the same number as the case number (Refer to sample index and verification form.)
    2. Date of admission and date of discharge
    3. Admitting diagnosis
    4. Final diagnosis
    5. Complaint
    6. History
    7. Physical and laboratory findings
    8. Summarizations of the important facts regarding the case acts as the most essential part of the case report and must describe the case in such a manner as to convey to the ABHM Credentials Committee the vital facts regarding the diagnosis, care, end results obtained, etc.

Case reports must be carefully prepared as they are subjected to detailed scrutiny.  Reports should be accurate, well-written, diversified, and properly descriptive.  The ABHM Credentials Committee reserves the right to seek additional details for any case it deems necessary. If they are not submitted in the format described above, they will be returned to the applicant, resulting in an incomplete file.