Bullcrap licensing exam

[USAF MD '05]

Anybody heard of the group ABPS ? They are doing their own certifying of docs in whatever field they want if they pass a test.
Here is a quote from our field's intro page:
ABPS's emergency medicine board certification exams enable successful candidates to present themselves to the public as qualified medical specialists in emergency medicine. Completing the emergency medicine board certification exams indicates mastery of emergency medicine experience and knowledge, as well as a professional commitment to adhere to the ABPS Medical Code of Ethics.
Each field says the same thing. The bad part is looking at the list of people who have recently become "diplomates". In all fields represented there are 18 non-EM guys and 57 EM!!! These are people who are presenting themselves to the public as equivalent to residency trained docs!
Just thought it was interesting how many go EM on that site. Hell, maybe I'l study a little derm during residency and get dual certified!

Congrats to all the matchees!

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[southerndoc]

Isn't it illegal to represent yourself as "board-certified" if you aren't certified by the licensing board of your specialty? Meaning you can't just take any test and say you are board-certified, unless you take the board exam of your designated specialty. The American Board of Medical Specialties is in charge of administering exams for all of the specialties recognized.

 

[FoughtFyr]

This group is recognized in Florida as "board certification" in emergency medicine. In all other states, it is illegal to advertise as "board-certified" unless you are certified by ABEM.

- H

 

[sigep628]

I remember reading something about this in the newsletter I get from AAEM. Try going to their website and looking for it. This licensing board is based in Florida or something and they are being recognized by the state of Florida. I am pretty sure this is the association that they were talking about. Of course I have been celebrating tonight so I could be mistaking. I would go to www.aaem.org and see if you can find something about it. They were fighting it.

 

[Jeff698]

After reading the subject of this thread, I figured for sure you'd just walked out of the CSA.

Sadly, you're right. This is the medical equivelant of a diploma factory for people who are still pissed off that the EM practice track is closed.

Florida is indeed the place for this nonsense (what is it with Florida and medical idiocy...three strikes and this?). Here is the AAEM page you were looking for:

http://www.aaem.org/floridaboard/

Take care,
Jeff

T-50 hours, 15 minutes (not that I'm counting)

 

[emdoc21]

Here's some more info on this topic:

A primer on the issue we made for AAEM/RES:
http://www.aaemres.org/issues/florida.php

A discussion forums thread from AAEM/RES:
http://www.aaemres.org/forums/
click AAEM topics then Florida Board certification fiasco.

Also look for more articles on this subject, including one I wrote, in the next issue of Common Sense. If you are not an AAEM member, you can still read .pdf files of Common Sense on the www.aaem.org website.

Also look for an editorial I wrote on the subject in the next issue of EMNews.

Take care,
Mark Reiter MD MBA
EM-2, UNC
Vice President, AAEM Resident Section