When choosing a physician, there are many factors to consider.
You might consider if the physician is close to your work or home or if the physician is in-network with your insurance, and get recommendations from friends and family. You might also look at the physicians credentials, such as where they went to medical school, what kind of specialty and subspecialty training they have, their years of experience and if they are board certified or not.
What does board certification mean?
Board certification means different things for different health care personnel. For example the following providers may be board certified doctors but are not the same as board certified physicians:
- Chiropractors
- Nurse Practitioners
- Psychologist
- Naturopathic Doctor
- Doctor of Holistic Health
For physicians, board certification is a voluntary process, and one that is very different from a medical license. Obtaining a medical license sets the minimum competency requirements to diagnose and treat patients and it is not specialty specific. Board certification demonstrates a physician’s exceptional expertise in a particular specialty and/or subspecialty of medical practice. It is also important to look at which specialty or subspecialty of medicine the physician is board certified in. You wouldn’t want a board certified cardiologist doing your colonoscopy but you certainly would want them to take care of your heart condition.
When choosing someone to care for your immune system, whether for allergies, immune deficiencies or autoimmune conditions, it is important to choose a physician who is board certified in Allergy/Immunology (for allergies and immune deficiencies) or Rheumatology (for autoimmune conditions).