ABPS Emergency Medicine | Family Physicians

Many Family Physicians Play a Major Role in Urban Emergency Departments

Family Physicians Emergency Medicine Across North America, many urban hospitals have staffed their emergency departments with family physicians whose extensive training and broad knowledge base make them an invaluable resource to the countless patients who visit the ER throughout the year. However, as many hospital groups and other healthcare organizations increasingly hire physicians with board certification in emergency medicine, a significant percentage of highly qualified and experienced family physicians are finding their long-term career prospects reduced because they have been traditionally ineligible to pursue board certification without formal residency training in emergency medicine.

At the American Board of Physician Specialties®, we believe that all emergency department physicians should have the opportunity to demonstrate their mastery of their specialty in emergency medicine and be formally recognized for it. Through the Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine® (BCEM), we offer highly qualified family and internal medicine physicians the opportunity to pursue board certification their area of expertise.

To be eligible for board certification through the BCEM, a physician candidate must first:

Accumulate a minimum of 7,000 hours of certifiable work in the ER over the course of a five-year period
Have completed an AOA or ACGME residency in internal medicine or family medicine
Meet the various eligibility requirements for board certification outlined here

CEOs of hospitals and other healthcare organizations need to know that there is an opportunity for their emergency department staff to become board certified through the BCEM, particularly as hiring protocols are being developed that explicitly require the staffing of physicians with board certification in emergency medicine. Recent studies have shown that both rural and urban hospitals heavily rely on family physicians in their emergency departments, and through the BCEM, these physicians can be looked at as both primary care and emergency medicine specialists.

To learn more about how family physicians can earn board certification in emergency medicine through the BCEM, contact the American Board of Physician Specialties 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.

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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