What does it mean if a Physician is "Board Certified"?
There is only one “Board” that officially represents each specialty in medicine and it is determined by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Their Member Boards are listed on their website. If a physician lists himself merely as being “Board Certified” then you should check which board this refers to since there are many “phony” boards out there that only require some money to get a certificate to say “Board Certified.”
For example, the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery is the official ABMS board representing orthopaedic surgery. To be certified by this board (called being a Diplomat of the board) one has to satisfactorily complete 4 years of residency, a year of general internship and pass both a written exam as well as an oral exam after being in practice 2 years. Background and practice results for those two years are checked before even being allowed to take (or sit for as it’s called) the oral exam. Other so called “Boards” with similar sounding names – such as the “American Board of Orthopaedic and Neurological Surgery”– does not have the same requirements, nor is it sanctioned to represent orthopaedic surgery. For a physician who is not satisfactorily trained and seen to practice medicine safely, it often is the only recourse to get to say “Board Certified” by purchasing a certificate with little requirements from some for profit company issuing “board” certificates. So ask WHICH BOARD.. and check the ABMS website!
ReCertification
To maintain Board Certification, a doctor must actively keep pace with the latest advances in his or her specialty and demonstrate best practices for patient safety, communications and ethics. Most ABMS boards require re-certification every 10 years to make sure their doctors are up to date and have been practicing medicine safely and effectively.
Find out more about the ABMS on their website, http://www.abms.org.