All Entries Tagged With: "medical specialties"
Professional group expels physician who treated octuplet’s mother
Are celebrity practitioners held to different professional standards compared to non-celebrity practitioners, such as the ones on your medical staff? One professional group recently answered that question with a resounding no.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine expelled Michael Kamrava, MD, the physician who became famous for treating Nadya Suleman, the mother of octuplets, according to an October 20 Associated Press article. The society didn’t release many details about the practitioner’s expulsion, but did say that it wasn’t due to his work with any one patient.
Poll question: Reimbursing for practitioner certifications
The American Board of Medical Specialties approved a new medical specialty for treating child abuse last month. This move highlights the importance practitioners place on regulating their work through certification programs. Medical staffs also value certifications and sometimes make them a privileging requirement.
In this week’s poll question we want to know if your organization helps pay for these certifications. Take the poll below and see how your facility compares to others.
Sales of fake medical certifications under investigation
The Connecticut Attorney General is investigating complaints from the American Board of Internal Medicine and others about the illegal sale of fake medical certifications, according to an April 8 ModernHealthcare.com article. The certifications are allegedly being sold by Keith Alan Lasko who targets foreign-trained physicians unfamiliar with authentic certification organizations.
The certifications come from false organizations such as the American Board of Geriatric Medicine and the United States Medical Specialists Federation.
New board for hospitalists
Today’s news release from the American Board of Physician Specialties revealed the new American Board of Hospital Medicine. This new board certifies physicians who practice in an inpatient setting and meet the criteria listed in the eligibility Requirements. Most MSPs are familiar with American Board of Medical Specialties and American Osteopathic Association Boards. However, it would be worth a discussion at your next Credentials Committee to discuss whether or not certification by the American Board of Physician Specialties would be recognized.
What seems to be an element of controversy is the requirement for completion of a residency program approved by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association, or the College of Family Practice of Canada, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons and deemed acceptable to the American Board of Hospital Medicine. Unlike the ABMS Board, there is less stringency with the type of residency required. For example, the American Board of Internal Medicine requires completed residency in Internal Medicine. I’ve heard comments from Board certified physicians that the American Board of Physician Specialties is not as discerning as the ABMS Boards.
It is interesting that another eligibility requirement could be current board certification in Family Practice, Internal Medicine, or Emergency Medicine by ABMS, ABPS, or AOA. (www.abpsga.org/certification/hospital_medicine/eligibility.html)
This topic may spark some interesting discussion among the physician leaders at the next Credentials Committee or Medical Executive Committee.
Carole La Pine, MSA, CPMSM, CPCS