ER Patients Deserve to Be Treated by Physicians Board Certified in Emergency Medicine
The ongoing shortage of physicians certified in emergency medicine has meant that many emergency departments across the country have had to rely on the knowledge and skills of doctors trained in primary care specialties. In fact, about one-third of the nation’s emergency departments are staffed by physicians who lack emergency medicine certification. To be sure, these doctors continually demonstrate that they are more than capable of providing critical care in the hectic ER environment. But more and more emergency departments choose to require that their emergency physicians be certified in emergency medicine, non-EM-certified doctors should strongly consider becoming certified in the specialty.
Emergency Medicine Certification With the BCEM
The Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM), a Member Board of the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS), offers qualified primary care physicians certification in EM. Board certification with the BCEM helps physicians demonstrate competency in emergency medical care. In addition, BCEM certification indicates that a physician is engaged in ongoing study to stay abreast of the latest advancements in the specialty. While BCEM certification expands physicians’ career opportunities, it also brings inestimable benefits to the people they serve – the patients.
How BCEM Certification Benefits Patients
Patients derive enormous comfort from knowing that an emergency room is staffed by highly trained and broadly experienced physicians – in other words, physicians who have earned certification through the BCEM. Through their proven expertise, board certified physicians impart a sense of trust that results in higher patient satisfaction, which can then boost a hospital’s reputation immeasurably. Arguably, this virtuous cycle produces a renewed commitment to patient-centric medicine that improves not only emergency room care but medical care in general.
The BCEM Maintains High Standards for Emergency Medicine Certification
As the third-largest multi-specialty physician certifying organization in the country, the ABPS is dedicated to world-class patient care and not the politics of medicine. We encourage career EM physicians who share these values to apply for certification with the BCEM. The BCEM provides primary care physicians with three pathways to certification in emergency medicine. With some of the most rigorous eligibility standards in North America, the BCEM requires that primary care physicians complete an accredited and approved primary care residency and at least five years and 7,000 hours of full-time practice in an emergency room. Candidates must also submit documentation attesting to their case experience.
Here is an overview of the BCEM’s eligibility requirements:
- Completion of an ACGME, AOA, RCPSC, or CFPC-accredited residency in emergency medicine, or
- Completion of an ACGME, AOA, RCPSC, or CFPC residency in one of the following primary care specialties—family practice, internal medicine, pediatric medicine, or general surgery—and at least 5 years AND 7,000 hours of full-time emergency medicine experience, or
- Completion of an accredited residency in one of the following specialties—family practice, internal medicine, pediatric medicine, or general surgery—and a 12- or 24-month emergency medicine fellowship approved by the AAEP.
All three pathways require passing both a written and oral examination to attain BCEM certification. The written exam consists of 325 multiple-choice questions and is computer-based. Candidates must pass the written exam to be eligible for the oral examination.
For detailed information about dates and fees for the application and the written exam, click here.
To learn more about the BCEM and our commitment to patient-centered care, or for more information about our eligibility requirements, contact the ABPS today.