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Are All Freestanding ER Physicians Certified In Emergency Medicine?

Freestanding ERsAs freestanding emergency rooms gain popularity, one valid concern is whether their physicians are qualified to practice emergency medicine. For instance, it’s not uncommon to find freestanding ERs across the country staffed by physicians trained and certified in specialties like family medicine or internal medicine. According to one estimate, as much as 40 percent of emergency department doctors lack certification in EM. While it’s true that many freestanding facilities have experienced ER doctors on staff, hiring experienced physicians who have earned board certification in emergency medicine can lend considerable heft to a freestanding ER’s reputation.

Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM)

The American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) offers certification in EM through the Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). By choosing physicians certified in EM, freestanding facilities can distinguish themselves from other organizations. This is because doctors who earn board certification in EM demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and skills required to provide superior emergency care, having met stringent eligibility requirements and passed a rigorous exam developed by Diplomates of the BCEM under the direction of ABPS psychometric consultants.

Why Emergency Medicine Certification Is Important

Freestanding ERs will find their search for qualified candidates simpler when they focus on physicians who are board certified in EM. These professionals possess not only the necessary EM experience but have also undertaken education beyond the specialty’s minimal standards and competency requirements. In terms of knowledge and skills, board certification in EM puts a freestanding ER doctor on par with residency-trained ER specialists. As a further benefit for freestanding ERs, when candidates certified in other specialties achieve EM certification, they can utilize multifaceted skills to effectively treat a range of illnesses and injuries.

Medical institutions can be confident in the credentials of BCEM Diplomates in particular, as these qualified doctors must have completed a minimum of five years and 7,000 hours of emergency department case work, in addition to several hours of continuing medical education. Through a certification process that allows physicians to learn new material about EM, refresh their knowledge of core competencies, and improve their bedside manner and diagnostic approach, the quality of medical care delivered by a freestanding ER is bound to improve.

BCEM Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to apply for initial certification with BCEM, candidates must satisfy the general requirements of the ABPS. These include being a graduate of a recognized U.S., Canadian, or international allopathic or osteopathic college of medicine, and holding a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States, its territories, or Canada. The BCEM has its own eligibility requirements for three certification pathways that include:

  • 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 five years of full-time emergency medicine experience, or
  • Completion of an accredited residency and a 12- or 24-month emergency medicine fellowship approved by the BCEM

For a list of BCEM-approved fellowships, click here. The ABPS invites qualified physicians who have completed a BCEM-approved fellowship to apply for certification in emergency medicine.

To earn BCEM certification, candidates in all three pathways must pass both a written and oral examination. The computer-based written exam consists of 325 multiple-choice questions. Candidates must pass the written exam to take the oral component.

If you want more information about the BCEM and the benefits that EM board certification offers to freestanding ERs, contact the ABPS today. The ABPS is the official certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc.®

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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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