Patient Care is the Priority of the American Board of Physician Specialties
Consulting a physician for a health problem can be anxiety-inducing for many people. It helps greatly, however, when patients trust that their physicians have the knowledge and expertise necessary for proper diagnosis and treatment. One way that physicians can foster trust is by becoming board certified. Physician board certification is a completely voluntary process, but because it’s so rigorous, requiring that candidates satisfy strict eligibility rules and pass comprehensive certification exams, it represents an exceptional commitment to patient care on the part of the physician.
Board Certification That Emphasizes Safe and Compassionate Medical Care
At the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS), we are committed to offering certification that meets the highest standards. Our written and oral exams are clinically based and psychometrically evaluated so that once a physician becomes ABPS certified, there can be no doubt that this individual has mastered the core competencies required to provide safe and compassionate care in a particular specialty.
Since our founding in 1952, the ABPS has never deviated from our commitment to exceptional patient care. Not only do our exams fairly and accurately measure physicians’ skills and knowledge, but unlike many health care organizations in the United States, we emphasize patient care over the business of medicine. The ABPS honestly assesses the existing shortcomings in the health care system and works diligently to find practical solutions that benefit patients above all else. That’s why we have addressed the nation’s shortage of qualified emergency physicians by offering emergency medicine certification without requiring physicians to have completed an additional residency. Furthermore, we strive to bring compassion back to the forefront of patient care by:
- Advocating for our Diplomates and patients by promoting evidence-based patient care
- Requiring that our Diplomates adhere to the ABPS Medical Code of Ethics
- Offering continuous recertification to ensure that ABPS-certified physicians are qualified to practice safe, high-quality medicine
ABPS Board Certification Gives Patients Peace of Mind
Physicians certified by the ABPS represent some of the best medical minds and practice their specialties at some of the nation’s most trusted institutions. Guided by the ABPS code of ethics, our physicians are committed to providing impartial patient care, with no special privileges based on an individual’s race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, or handicap. In fact, the ABPS is the only multi-specialty board that requires its Diplomates to complete a medical ethics course to earn certification.
By hiring ABPS Diplomates, health care leaders send a positive message to patients, who often make decisions about their medical care based on the credentials of a medical institution’s physicians. In other words, board certification instills patients with confidence in their physicians and the treatment they provide. Because a patient’s health and well-being are a good physician’s top priority, the benefits of certification to patients are immeasurable.
Verifying a Physician’s Certification
The ABPS offers a fast and accurate system for verifying the board certification of our Diplomates. Within the system, which you can find here, healthcare organizations and healthcare agencies have access to the physician’s specialty or specialties, certificate number, and expiration date. This database contains primary source-verified educational information for most of our physicians, which may be used for credentialing and other professional purposes. Additionally, the ABPS offers free online certification confirmation to the public, allowing patients to verify the board certification of ABPS physicians.
To learn more about our mission to certify qualified physicians who are committed to providing exceptional patient care, with no special privileges based on race, sex, age, or national origin, contact the ABPS today.