PM&R Subspecialization

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Dr Russo,

Is there any way you could post a link where we could review the article? I read it a few weeks ago but don't completely remember all the main points.

One thing I do remember is that it was recommended in 2002 by the AAPMR president at the time to create sub-specialty certification in sports medicine. So, it looks like that has been on hold for 4 years now.

Any specific reason why?

Is it believed that there are not enough Physiatric Sports Medicine specialists to make this worthwhile?
 
drusso said:
Did anyone read the article on subspecialization in "The Physiatrist" newletter? Any thoughts?

I thought it was good that they brought in multiple perspectives from 3 practioners.

My sense is that medicine as a whole is trending toward too much specialization, and overall this is probably not a good trend. But given that the rest of medicine is specializing, it is in the best interest of PM+R to make sure they are included in any multi-discipline specialties to they we do not lose access to patients that are within our spheres of service.

Pain is the one that comes up most frequently. I don't think the specialty should exist, because the practitioners are too heterogeneous and do not truly represent a common skill set. That said, if the specialty is going to exist, I want to make sure that PM+R is included in the accredidation process.

Similarly, I am not happy about the new neuromuscular board. Very few PM+R docs are truly going to have the broad skill set implied by a neuromuscular board, but its very existance does to some extent diminish the significance of the AANEM certification.

What are others thoughts?
 
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