Dear Friends:
As you know, pain medicine or interventional pain management certification in the United States is a volunteer process; however, it carries significant value and validates what we do on a daily basis. Board certification demonstrates a physician's exceptional expertise in a particular specialty and/or subspecialty of medical practice. Even though certification by an ABMS member board is the gold standard and involves a rigorous process of testing and peer evaluation, it does not assess technical competency of interventional techniques, or knowledge of controlled substance management and practice management. In contrast to ABMS member boards, the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians (ABIPP) provides a rigorous assessment of one's technical competency and knowledge of controlled substance management and practice management.
ABIPP is recognized as an individual board in 14 states; an additional 10 states have no requirement for recognition. In all other states, we are attempting to obtain approval by the respective state board of medical licensure or through the legislature. For those with primary board certification or subspecialty certification, such recognition is not an essential part; however, it is essential to prove our competency to our patients and policy-makers.
We also offer multiple pathways as shown below. If you are already certified, or not interested, please pass this on to your colleagues and friends.
For Those with an ABMS Subspecialty in Pain Medicine
To excel in your performance without taking too much time away from your practice, the ABIPP examination will be offered for those with a valid subspecialty certification from an ABMS-recognized board. The examination process will consist of a theoretical examination for controlled substance management and practice management, followed by an oral examination and competency assessment of interventional techniques using cadavers. All this will be offered in one weekend - a Saturday and Sunday. The fee is only $1,000 which is a fraction of what numerous other boards charge.
For Those with a Primary ABMS Board Certification
This is for those who have not had an opportunity to complete a fellowship or obtain pain medicine subspecialty certification, but are very much interested in interventional pain management and have been in practice for at least 6 years.
For those who have completed a fellowship (those with an accredited fellowship this requirement is waived and those with an unaccredited fellowship, this requirement is 3 years) you must complete 300 credit hours with 50 of them earned in hands-on cadaver workshops. This may be somewhat of a long-drawn out and difficult process. It focuses on theoretical examination, not only focusing on pain medicine, interventional pain management, but also focusing on controlled substance management and practice management followed by the Part II oral examination and technical competency of commonly performed interventional procedures. You can achieve all of this with a one-time fee of $1,500 which is a minute fraction of what numerous other boards charge.
Without Primary Board Certification: Competency Certification
Those of you have not obtained primary board certification, but have fellowship or other training or have been practicing interventional pain management for at least 6 years (for those with accredited fellowship this requirement is waived and for those with unaccredited fellowship, this requirement is 3 years), you will be eligible for competency certification examination; however, this is not for diplomate status. Even though this is not a diplomate, this will provide you with the ability to demonstrate your technical skills and competency in patient management. This examination is achieved during a weekend, Saturday and Sunday, with the Part I examination followed by an oral examination and competency demonstration of interventional techniques. The fee is only $1,500 compared to numerous other boards, which is a minute fraction of it.
In light of this, why would you not choose to validate your competency through ABIPP certification? ABIPP is a highly visible indicator to show the world your life-long hard work and dedication to our specialty.
If you desire to attend any of the ASIPP review courses, you will be provided with a 25% discount rate as a member seeking certification. The courses available are controlled substance and practice management as a comprehensive 2-day course, a 2-day course in interventional techniques, and a weekend cadaver workshop.
A comprehensive board review course is also available on July 24 -28, 2017, in Chicago.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions and interest. A short application is enclosed for your consideration.
Thank you,
Mark Boswell, MD, PhD
Executive Director, ABIPP
Academic Director, ASIPP
Department Chairman
Dept. of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine
530 S Jackson Street
, Room C2A01
Louisville
, KY 40202
Laxmaiah Manchikanti, MD
Secretary, ABIPP
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, ASIPP and SIPMS
Medical Director, Pain Management Center of Paducah
Clinical Professor
Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
University of Louisville
, Kentucky
2831 Lone Oak Road
Paducah
, KY 42003
Phone: 270-554-8373 ext. 101
