Approved Emergency Medicine Fellowship Programs Enable Primary Care Trained Physicians to Become Certified in the Specialty
Primary care physicians typically have a diverse skill set and a strong clinical background. They tend to see a high volume of patients as part of their residency, which means they are trained in diagnosing and treating patients of different ages who collectively have a variety of conditions. These clinical experiences help to explain why thousands of primary care physicians have become leaders in emergency departments across the country.
For many years, board certification has been one of the best ways for primary care physicians to earn recognition for their emergency medicine skills. But certification in emergency medicine has long required residency training in the field, a reality that deprives many exceptionally qualified primary care doctors of due recognition. Fortunately, that’s no longer the case because the Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine® (BCEM) offers physicians like these a certification pathway through approved emergency medicine fellowships.
Recognition for Fellowship Programs
The American Academy of Emergency Physicians (AAEP) recognizes teaching hospitals and medical schools that offer distinguished emergency medicine fellowships for primary care physicians. Completion of an AAEP-approved fellowship enables graduate fellows to apply for certification with the BCEM.
When physicians achieve BCEM certification, they become recognized as qualified emergency medicine physicians, positioning themselves as leaders in the healthcare community and expanding their career opportunities.
Hospitals and schools that offer emergency medicine fellowships can receive recognition through the AAEP’s Emergency Medicine Fellowship Recognition Program. The AAEP recognizes only specific fellowships that have established a level of training that allows physicians to demonstrate mastery in emergency medical care.
If you would like more information about the AAEP’s Emergency Medicine Fellowship Recognition Program, contact the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS). We are the nationally recognized multi-specialty certifying board that developed the BCEM. We will be happy to answer your questions and provide you with more details.