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What MSPs Need to Know about ABPS Physician Board Certification Options

What MSPs Need to Know about ABPS Physician Board Certification OptionsThe American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) maintains that medical organizations across the United States would be well-served if their bylaws recognized the highly qualified and dedicated physicians certified through the ABPS. The ABPS certified its first physician in 1960, and since then has certified numerous skilled practitioners in a range of medical fields, from traditional specialties such as internal medicine to emerging specialties such as integrative medicine. In fact, the ABPS was the first certifying body to recognize both allopathic and osteopathic physicians, and remains committed to a non-discriminatory approach to board certification.

Sadly, the hiring policies of many medical organizations are written so narrowly that they unwittingly discriminate against accomplished ABPS Diplomates. This happens despite the fact that the ABPS is now included in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Handbook as a physician board certification option. Board certification “doesn’t mean only being certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS),” says ABPS Executive Director Jeff Morris, JD.

As Elizabeth Snelson, legal counsel for the Medical Staff, PLLC, in St. Paul, Minnesota, says in a HealthLeaders Media article, “What we really want are well-qualified physicians. Is there anyone who can sit down and say, well, if you are ABMS certified, you are a better doctor?”

Medical staff professionals should ask themselves who would be affected under tighter board certification requirements, Snelson advises. “If you set a standard for quality reasons and there is someone you have never had a quality issue with who would be axed, you are also denying patients access.”

What this means is that when ABPS physicians are turned away from staff membership, patients are deprived of receiving the superior medical care that these accomplished practitioners deliver. To avoid this, and to ensure that certified doctors are afforded a fair opportunity to practice their specialty of choice, Snelson suggests that organizations include an equivalency clause in their bylaws to recognize physicians who are board certified by entities other than the ABMS.

We encourage MSPs to visit the website of the National Association Medical Staff Services (NAMSS) and review two documents that include the ABPS as a primary source for board certification verifications. MSPs will find that the ABPS helps healthcare organizations across the country in determining physicians’ competency while offering a choice in nationally recognized board certifications.

By maintaining rigorous certification standards and offering qualified physicians the chance to demonstrate their expertise, the ABPS strives to meet the changing healthcare needs of the public. For more information about our mission, 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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