When choosing a pain physician, you are really starting a long term relationship with that physician. Therefore you need to choose your physician wisely as the quality of care provided to you will impact not only yourself, but also the people around you. Being informed is the best way to ensure you receive the highest quality of medical care available. Below are some of the questions you should ask of your physician when choosing a pain physician.
Questions to ask your physician:
What medical degree designates you as a physician?
The letters after a physician's name denotes the type of training your physician has completed. Every state in the United States requires the one of the following degrees to qualify for a license to practice medicine.
1) M.D. – Doctor of Medicine
2) D.O. – Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
3) M.B.B.S. – Doctor of Medicine ( United Kingdom )
These degrees are all equivalent. Health care providers not possessing one of these degrees are not qualified to receive a license to practice medicine.
In what specialty was your primary residency training? Did you complete your residency training?
Residency training is the minimum of three years of formal post-medical school training where a physician learns his primary specialty. Currently there are no established standards stating who is qualified to practice pain medicine. In fact, any physician with an unrestricted state medical license is legally able to practice any type of medicine or perform any surgical procedure even if they have had no formal training! Completion of residency training is standard. You should prefer a physician who has completed a primary residency training program in the United States . Ask for proof.
Are you fellowship trained in pain medicine?
Formal training after completing a primary residency is considered fellowship training. It is a minimum of one year of training in a subspecialty within the scope of the physician's primary residency. Three primary specialties (Anesthesiology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Neurology/Psychiatry) offer fellowship programs in pain medicine that are recognized by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) .
Are you "board certified"? If so, by whom?
You may see the phrase “Board Certified” in advertisements or in the credentials of your physician. The question you really should ask is “Who is granting the physician board certification?”
Requirements for “Board Certification with Special Qualifications in Pain Medicine” per the American Board of Medical Specialties:
The physician must:
- Possess an unrestricted license to practice medicine
- Complete a recognized residency program (minimum of three years)
- Pass the requisite exams for board certification in his/her primary specialty
- Complete a recognized fellowship program (minimum one year)
- Pass the qualifying examination for the subspecialty of pain medicine
As stated earlier, any physician with an unrestricted state medical license can legally practice any type of medicine. Likewise, board certification is not required to practice pain medicine. However, proof of board certification exemplifies physicians who believe in delivering the highest of standards in their practices.
In regards to pain medicine, there are only three boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to grant board certification.
