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How Patients Benefit from ABPS Board Certification

A doctor and patient shaking handsThe American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) is one of three nationally recognized organizations that oversee physician board certification and recertification in the United States. The ABPS has implemented eligibility requirements and rigorous testing standards that evaluate the competence and clinical knowledge of the physician candidates.

The objectives of our organizations include the following:

  • Establish stringent standards for board certification
  • Provide a forum for addressing certification issues faced by medical specialists
  • Institute professional standards for each ABPS Member Board
  • Maintain a coordinated structure for conducting Member Board affairs
  • Review and act on applications for the creation of new specialty boards
  • Encourage collegiality, fraternity, and service among all ABPS Diplomates
  • Inform the public about certification and the status of our board certified physicians

ABPS Certification Serves as Evidence of a Physician’s Expertise

Attaining the distinction of board certification through the ABPS is not easy. However, becoming an ABPS Diplomate greatly benefits all those who you entered the medical professional to serve – namely, your patients. People in search of quality medical care have a handful of local specialists from which to choose in many cases. Board certification – though it is just one of many factors a patient should consider when choosing a specialist – provides definitive evidence that a physician is highly qualified to provide care in a given specialty. Board certification stands out as tangible proof that an M.D. or a D.O. has fully mastered a specialty’s core competencies. It also indicates you are part of an elite group of distinguished physicians who have met the rigorous standards for medical knowledge and ethics set forth by the ABPS, one of the leading certifying bodies in the country.

Why ABPS-Certified Physicians Stand Out

If there is one quality that all ABPS Diplomates have in common, it is the unyielding commitment to providing exceptional care to their patients. To this end, ABPS Diplomates:

  • Adhere to the ABPS Medical Code of Ethics
  • Work diligently and collaboratively to find practical solutions to shortcomings in the healthcare system
  • Share and implement medical best practices with their peers
  • Publicly advocate for the highest level of patient care
  • Remain zealously dedicated to putting people – not profit – first

ABPS Board Certification Sends a Positive Message to Patients

ABPS certification signifies not only a physician’s high level of expertise but also a genuine prioritization of patient care over commercial considerations. This commitment stems from the guiding principle of every medical certification board associated with the ABPS—placing patient well-being and safety at the forefront. In a healthcare landscape where trust is paramount, affiliation with a certification board backed by the ABPS’s history and stringent standards becomes a beacon of reliability for patients. It communicates that an ABPS physician, beyond meeting rigorous standards, is dedicated to compassion in every aspect of their practice. This emphasis on empathy not only reinforces a physician’s credentials but also elevates the overall quality of care, creating a positive and lasting impression on patients.

How to Tell If Your Physician Is Certified Through the ABPS

Determining whether a doctor is board certified through the ABPS is simple. Prospective patients are encouraged to confirm board certification of ABPS physicians by conducting a database search using this online form, which is free of charge. We have also created the Online Verification Database specifically for hospitals, credentialers, and other healthcare organizations who wish to receive official ABPS board certification verification online within minutes. The Database provides information that may be used for physician credentialing and other professional purposes.

For more information, contact the ABPS today.

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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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