Board Certification

Many M.D.'s today are "Board Certified" but many patients don't really know what that means. For a doctor to claim he is Board Certified, he must have passed a series of accredited examinations. If a physician states they are Board Eligible (Also called "In the Board Certification Process") then this means that they have not yet passed the exams, but they are currently in the process of taking the exams. Most young physicians are initially Board Eligible because there is a time period often required before they can "sit" for the exams. This in no way means they are less qualified, it simply implies that they are in the examination process.  Many hospitals now require new physicians to be board certified within a defined period of time. Older physicians who aren't board certified are often "grand-fathered" in, and aren't required to become board certified. Thus just because a physician works at a hospital, it doesn't guarantee that he is board certified. Some physicians have been board certified in the past but failed to keep up their status for various reasons. If a physician is not board certified, it doesn't necessarily mean that he isn't a qualified doctor, but one needs to question why he isn't board certified, especially in an era when board certification is almost becoming required. 

Not All "Boards" Are The Same

Some physicians say that they are "Diplomat's" of certain "boards". This does not mean that they are board certified. There are many "pseudo-boards" that physicians can pay to become a member of, but unless the board is recognized by the state as a legitimate board, the physician cannot claim to be board certified. Thus just because a physician states that he is a diplomat of some organization, he may or may not be board certified, Ask him. Almost all qualified boards are members of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), and those that are not, probably will be in the near future. Being board certified means that your physician went the "extra step" to assure that he has met ever possible standard there is at this time. If you are unsure if a board is recognized, the ABMS has a website (www.ABMS.org), but remember not all recognized boards are members of the ABMS (The reasons for this often are that the board is in the process of joining the ABMS, or the board is being denied membership to the ABMS due to political reasons. This is usually due to a similar "competing board" that is a member of the ABMS blocking membership to the other board. In medicine, these politics are often too common)

Our Surgeons are Board Certified Medical Doctors

Today, from the person who does your spine surgery to the guy who fits your glasses at Wal-Mart ^(R), everyone calls themselves a "doctor". The reality is that there are many different doctoral degrees but these degrees involve different training backgrounds. All of our physicians are Medical Doctors (M.D.'s). M.D.'s are trained in every aspect of medical care, and the M.D. degree is unparalleled amongst doctoral degrees. Also, M.D.'s are trained to the highest standards that are regulated by a multitude of national organizations, which regularly assure that standards are constantly being met. unlike other doctoral degrees, M.D. schools are regulated by the government and often are government supported. Unlike other doctoral degrees, M.D's must undertake M.D. approved residencies, take M.D. approved boards and meet nationally approved M.D. scholastic requirements. M.D. residencies can lose their status if they don't continue to meet these requirements.  All of this assures our patients that the highest quality of care is constantly being given. If your surgeon isn't an M.D. you should ask why. Our Surgeons are Board Certified, from Accredited American Medical Schools, Internships, and Residencies, and are therefore well trained to help you. We proudly display our credentials for your evaluation.

Links to Board Certification Websites