Trapper's Trash Stinks Up Eyesore

All The World Is Still A Stage For Shakespeare

Monday, February 10, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





Specialists narrow focus &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Everyone knows that a medical doctor is a professional who has had years of
training to understand the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. The
basic training of a physician specialist includes four years of education in
college, four years of medical school and at least three years of specialty
training (called a residency) under supervision. Training in certain
subspecialties can take additional yearsThe process most widely used by
physicians to determine a state of health is to ask questions about a person's
medical history. This is usually followed by a physical examination to
determine how well the body is functioning and whether there are signs of
disease. Doctors also use a variety of tests to evaluate health. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Some of these diagnostic procedures (e.g., cardiac catheterization, CAT
scans, biopsy of body tissues) are very complicated. They call for many years
of training in order to use them safely and accurately. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The complexity of the body's structure and the way it functions calls for
high levels of skill in understanding body systems and in knowing the effect
that each system has on the whole. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Specialists are doctors who concentrate on certain body systems, specific
age groups, or on complex scientific techniques developed to diagnose or treat
certain types of disorders. Specialties in medicine developed because of the
rapidly expanding body of knowledge about health and illness and the
constantly evolving new treatment techniques. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A subspecialist is a physician who has completed training in a general
medical speciality and then takes additional training in a more specific
sub-area of that specialty. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This training increases the depth of knowledge of the specialist in that
particular field. For example, cardiology is a subspecialty of internal
medicine, pediatric surgery is a subspecialty of surgery, and child and
adolescent psychiatry is a subspecialty of psychiatry. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The training of a specialist begins after the doctor has received the MD
degree from a medical school, in what is called a residency. Resident
physicians dedicate themselves for three to seven years to full-time
experience in a hospital or ambulatory care setting, caring for patients under
the supervision of experienced teaching specialists. Educational conferences
and research experience are also part of that training. The first year of
residency used to be called an internship. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Specialty boards certify physicians as having met certain published
standards. There are 24 specialty boards that are recognized by the American
Board of Medical Specialties and the American Medical Association. In order to
be certified as a medical specialist by one of these recognized boards, a
physician must complete certain requirements. Generally, these include: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 1. Completion of a course of study leading to the MD or DO (Doctor of
Osteopathy) degree. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 2. Completion of three to seven years of full-time training in an
accredited residency program. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 3. Some specialty boards require assessments of individual performance and
competence from the residency training director. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 4. Some boards require that the doctor have a period of experience in full-
time practice in the specialty prior to examination for certification. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 5. Finally, each candidate for certification must pass a written
examination given by the specialty board. Fifteen of the 24 specialty boards
also require an oral examination conducted by senior specialists in that
field. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Some boards issue certificates for a limited period of time, usually six to
10 years. In ~order to retain certification, diplomates cq of those boards
must be recertified by periodically going through an additional process
involving continuing education in the specialty, review of credentials and
further examination. The American Board of Family Practice, founded in 1970,
was the first group to require certification of its members (every 6 years). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Certified specialists are listed in The Official ABMS Directory of Board
Certified Medical Specialists. It can be found in most public hospitals,
universities and medical libraries. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The ABMS also arranges for the publication of lists of certified
specialists/subspecialists in Yellow Pages directories and operates an 800
phone line (1-800-776-2378) to verify the certification status of individuals. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Member boards of the ABMS provide assurance to the public that a certified
medical specialist has successfully completed an approved educational program
and an evaluation, including an examination process designed to assess the
knowledge, experience and skills requisite to the provision of high quality
patient care in that specialty. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Herbert M. Weinman of Dallas is a family physician and vice president of
Provider Services for Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Specialists Narrow Focus 
Everyone Knows That A Medical Doctor Is A Professional Who Has Had Years Of 
Training To Understand The Diagnosis, Treatment And Prevention Of Disease. The 
Basic Training Of A Physician Specialist Includes Four Years Of Education In 
College, Four Years Of Medical School And At Least Three Years Of Specialty 
Training (called A Residency) Under Supervision. Training In Certain 
Subspecialties Can Take Additional Years.