What is a Board-Certified Family Doctor?

When you or a family member needs health care or medical treatment, you want a highly qualified doctor dedicated to providing outstanding care. When you choose a doctor who is board-certified, you can be confident he or she meets nationally recognized standards for education, knowledge, experience and skills to provide high quality care. Board certification goes above and beyond just having a medical license. Each board-certified family doctor earns the first board certification by passing an exam given by the American Board of Family Medicine. After this, the ABFM program requires ongoing exams and education. To maintain board certification, a family doctor must keep up with the latest advances in medicine as well as in patient safety, communications, and ethics. Board certification is the best sign that a doctor has the knowledge, experience, and skills needed to offer high-quality patient care.