Caron Doctors Are Board Certified Across Multiple Disciplines: Why It Matters For Recovery

Choosing the right medical professionals to get you on the road to recovery can be an overwhelming process. When you make your decision, how do you know that you will be getting the highest quality care? Board certification is one indicator that you can look for when choosing a physician in any specialty. Here, we will discuss what board certification means and why it is important in treating addiction.

What is the Difference Between a Medical License and Board Certification?

All doctors in the United States must undergo rigorous training before they can get a medical license and begin treating patients. After medical school, standard training includes an internship, residency training, and additional medical education. Each doctor must then pass a general exam to obtain licensure in the state where they wish to practice medicine. Doctors who wish to take an extra step to demonstrate their expertise in their particular specialty - such as pediatrics, dermatology, psychiatry, addiction medicine, anesthesiology - choose to become board certified. Not all licensed doctors are board certified.

What is Board Certification?

Board certification is a voluntary process, requiring further training that is specialty-specific in order to pass a board examination. Board certification informs patients and healthcare organizations that the specialists they choose are uniquely skilled and knowledgeable in their field, maintain their specialty expertise, and meet the certification standards established by a board of their peers.

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) offers board certification in 40 specialties and 88 subspecialties. There are 24 ABMS member boards that work to develop the highest professional standards for their doctors. Through the ABMS Program for Maintenance of Certification, members receive ongoing training and assessment to ensure that they continue to meet competency requirements and provide the highest quality of care to patients. Patients can rest assured that board certified physicians, also known as diplomates, have shown their commitment to lifelong learning, providing a higher standard of patient care and knowing the latest advancements in their field.

How Do You Know If Your Doctor is Board Certified?

To find out if a doctor is board certified, the ABMS provides an easy-to-use online search tool that requires the doctor’s first and last name, the state where they are licensed, and their specialty. Checking board certification status ensures that you will receive the highest quality of care. There are other types of board certification available to doctors in the U.S., including the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), but ABMS is considered the gold standard.

Why Does Board Certification Matter In Addiction Recovery?

When it comes to addiction recovery, it is imperative to treat the entire patient, both mind and body. Caron’s substance use disorder programs include medical detox, medication-assisted treatment and cognitive behavioral therapy. Because Caron has several on staff physicians who are multiple boarded and has an on-site medical center, we can provide treatment for drug and alcohol addiction as well as concurrent conditions such as chronic pain or behavioral health disorders. We have the resources to appropriately treat medically compromised patients.

At Caron, our onsite staff physicians are board certified across multiple disciplines including cardiology, emergency medicine, addiction medicine, anesthesiology, psychiatry, internal medicine and integrative medicine. With many physicians who are double- and triple- board certified, Caron is uniquely qualified to treat the individual needs of each patient throughout the recovery process.