THE AMERICAN BOARD OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE ANESTHESIOLOGY CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE CERTIFICATION APPROVED FOR EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS
East Lansing, MI, and Raleigh, NC (July 12, 2013) — On June 26, 2013, the Board of Directors of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) unanimously approved certification in Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine (ACCM) through a joint sponsorship of the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) and the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM). This cosponsorship arrangement provides an opportunity for Emergency Medicine residency graduates to pursue a unique two-year ACCM fellowship training pathway. Upon successful completion of that training, qualified physicians will be able to seek ACCM subspecialty certification. Any Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited ACCM fellowship program that wishes to offer a two-year fellowship must first apply to the ABA for approval. The eligibility criteria, timeline, and administrative process for emergency physicians to access the ABA Critical Care Medicine Certification Examination, as well as the application process for
ACCM fellowship programs are available on the ABA and ABEM websites (www.theABA.org and www.ABEM.org). ABA President, Douglas B. Coursin, M.D., stated that “ABA is pleased to see the culmination of the many efforts of members of the Anesthesiology and Emergency Medicine communities in helping to create this new CCM pathway founded on an interdisciplinary and multi-professional approach to the care of critically ill surgical and medical patients.” ABEM President, John C. Moorhead, M.D., stated that, “ABEM appreciates the collaboration with the American Board of Anesthesiology to develop this opportunity, which further recognizes the significant interest in critical care medicine within the Emergency Medicine education community.” ACCM becomes the eighth subspecialty available to ABEMcertified physicians along with Emergency Medical Services, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Internal Medicine-Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Sports Medicine, and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine.
ABOUT ABA
The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) examines and certifies physicians who complete an ACGME accredited anesthesiology training program in the United States and voluntarily apply to the Board for certification or maintenance of certification. The ABA also offers subspecialty certification in Critical Care Medicine, Pain Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine, Sleep Medicine and Pediatric Anesthesiology. Its mission is to advance the highest standards of the practice of anesthesiology. Formed in 1937, the ABA is one of the 24 medical specialty boards that comprise the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Through ABMS, the Boards work together to set and sustain common standards of expertise and professionalism that each uses to evaluate candidates for Board certification and specialists to maintain their certification. For more information, please visit the ABA website at www.theABA.org or contact the ABA Communications Center at (866) 999-7501.
ABOUT ABEM
Founded in 1976, the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) develops and administers the Emergency Medicine certification examination for physicians who have met the ABEM credentialing requirements. ABEM has nearly 30,000 emergency physicians currently certified. ABEM is not a membership organization, but a non-profit, independent evaluation organization. ABEM is one of 24 Member Boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties.
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