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Facts About the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS)

Founded in 1952, the American Board of Physician Specialties is a nationally recognized choice in physician board certification that includes 12 Member Boards with Diplomates in 20 specialties. Today, leading medical entities, stakeholders, and professional organizations have updated their bylaws, policies, and standards to include ABPS. ABPS offers the highest standards in physician board certification that meets the healthcare needs of the public and aids physicians in achieving success in the continuously evolving medical environment. It’s Diplomates practice throughout the United States and serve as leaders in their medical specialties.

Here are some important facts about ABPS:

  • ABPS Member Boards are indexed in the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare’s (CAQH) Proview application. CAQH is a platform that gathers enrollment and credentialing data in a single repository for participating health plans and other healthcare organizations.
  • Florida Blue is a prime example of health insurance companies that accept ABPS board certified physicians.
  • Federal and State organizations that recognize ABPS certifications include, but are not limited to, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); the Veterans’ Health Administration and the United States Armed Forces under the GI Bill; along with state medical boards with specific advertising rules.
  • ABPS is recognized in the definition of Physician Board Certification in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Handbook.
  • Leading healthcare and credentialing organizations such as Greely, HCPro, and the National Association of Medical Staff Services (NAMSS), recognize ABPS as a choice in physician certification. In addition, HCPro’s Medical Staff Governing Documents – Bylaws, Policies, and Procedures and NAMSS’s Ideal Credentialing Standards Whitepaper and Managed Care Resource Toolkit have been revised to reflect this recognition.
  • Various state medical boards have also completed their due diligence and retain strict language that accepts and recognizes ABPS as a recognized certifying board that meets the higher standards of certification they require. Some state medical boards, including Florida, have written ABPS into their stringent language.
  • ABPS Diplomates and applicants have been primary source verified by Aperture, a Joint Commission and National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) accredited Credentials Verification Organization(CVO)
  • ABPS examinations, procedures, and protocols not only meet the highest standards possible, but are clinically, psychometrically, and legally defensible. An objective third party and industry leader (Castle Worldwide) conducted a comprehensive assessment of the ABPS’ rigorous standards and found that they were equivalent to those set by ABMS and AOA.
  • ABPS requires a recertification exam every 8 years along with, 400 CME’s (200 CME’s specialty specific) and a medical ethics course completed in that time frame.
  • ABPS is included in a recent report from the AMA Council on Medical Education about options in physician board certification. This further demonstrates the credibility and recognition of ABPS board certifications.
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Patient Care Is Our Priority

Medical organizations throughout North America understand that our rigorous certification standards prove that ABPS Diplomates are capable of delivering the best patient care possible.

Far too often, medicine is led by less than 5% of non-practicing physicians taking away and replacing the voice of the 95% of physicians practicing and placing patient safety and care first on the front lines every day. The American Board of Physician Specialties has raised the standards in physician board certification not only in the quality of their boards of certification, but in hearing and allowing for the voice of those active physicians caring directly for patients. Having been a part of the ABPS over the last 28 years has allowed me to grow as a woman leader in a field often wrought with challenges. It helped me and others raise the bar of the standards of care in my specialty, Emergency Medicine, through their Board Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). ABPS also helped raise the standards of care for 21st century medicine through their certifications in other specialties, particularly in Integrative Medicine & Disaster Medicine. Having physician voices heard matters to medicine and is essential in the betterment of patient safety and care.

Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Emergency Medicine
On October 18, 2007, President George W. Bush released Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 (HSPD-21), calling on our nation, among other initiatives, to “collectively support and facilitate the establishment of a discipline of disaster health”. It is a great testament to the wisdom and foresight of the American Board of Physician Specialties that it immediately set to work and created, within the short span of only one year, an educational blueprint and set of certification examinations, both written and oral, for a new subspecialty of disaster medicine—and it is why I chose to be part this vital initiative and this wonderful organization. This is but one of the many innovative programs initiated by the American Board of Physician Specialties over the years, and why I am proud to support its work on behalf of our nation’s public health.

Art Cooper, MD
Disaster Medicine
When the American Board of Physician Specialties offered to host the American Board of Integrative Medicine, ABPS became a landmark organization working to move medicine into the twenty first century. Certifying physicians who have completed rigorous academic training in Integrative Medicine ensures that the field of Integrative Medicine will continue to develop academically, clinically, and professionally. The leadership of ABPS continues to impress me - they are diligent in constantly innovating to provide certifications for physicians who want to advance their careers and their areas of expertise. I am honored to be a part of this organization.

Ann Marie Chiasson, MD
Integrative Medicine
There are many ways board certification advances a physician career. ABPS Board examination verifies your accuracy, precision, and reflects your mastery of your residency training verifying your expertise. ABPS Board certification demonstrates your level of expertise beyond your practice experience, primary education degrees, and training which are necessary for insurance reimbursement and practice privilege requirements. Attaining your ABPS Board Certification will clarify your purpose, secure your practice growth, and expand into leadership positions. Board certification can serve as an indication of a physician’s commitment to medicine, beyond the minimal standards and competency of training, their measurement to quality of care, and attaining an award for excellence.

Chris Kunis MD
Internal Medicine
When I think historically, advancement in medicine and patient safety and care has been driven by the diversity of people and scientific thought. That’s what I found at the ABPS and more. For over 60 years that is just who we are. I found a physician certifying body that provides a choice and voice to all physicians ensuring that patients are always placed first.

Jerry Allison, MD
Emergency Medicine
When I decided to pursue a full time role as a physician executive it was important to me to obtain additional professional training, education and work experience. Board certification through the ABPS in Administrative Medicine is validation of my efforts and a demonstration of dedication to professional development. We need more physicians to become full time health care executives, knowing there is a board certification option in Administrative Medicine encourages physicians to take the leap from full time clinical practice to healthcare organizational leadership.

Richard Paula, MD
Administrative Medicine
The American Board of Physician Specialties has provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of internal medicine through board certification. As a hospitalist, board certification is an expected credential, and hospitals recognize the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) as one of the three standard credentialling bodies for Internal Medicine. Additionally, the ABPS has helped me develop leadership skills as a Board member and Committee Chairperson. ABPS has also helped me sharpen critical thinking skills as a test question developer and reviewer. The Allopathic (MD) and Osteopathic (DO) physicians in the ABPS are lifelong learners and frequently pursue multiple board certifications. I enjoy the camaraderie of my peers in ABPS.

Loren Jay Chassels, DO
Internal Medicine
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