NEW YORK (PRWEB) December 05, 2017 -- The American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry (ABMSP) announces the addition of a new area of board certification for office-based or ambulatory physicians. The board now offers a non-exam-based certification to qualified podiatrists in Geriatric Podiatry; this certification becomes the fifth certification offered by ABMSP, with existing certifications in the areas of Primary Care; Foot and Ankle Surgery; Prevention and Treatment of Diabetic Foot Wounds; and Limb Preservation and Salvage. The certification in Geriatric Podiatry, which is awarded to applicants demonstrating qualifications through an evaluated portfolio of experience and service, is the first new certification offered by the Board since 2010.
The development of the new certification comes in response to an increasing need for geriatric-centered podiatric care. Preventive podiatric medicine, in particular, is important to help geriatric patients keep their feet healthy and to prevent the falls that can be so troublesome to older patients.
The new ABMSP certification in Geriatric Podiatry will be awarded by way of a portfolio which demonstrates a candidate’s experience in geriatric podiatric medicine. Following a strict point system, the Board will review candidates’ qualifications in the areas of academic coursework, publishing credentials, presentation experience, service to the medical community, and other criteria. Candidates who achieve a score of at least 50 points must also meet other requirements to be considered for certification, including current DPM licensure, extensive experience in a podiatric practice or fellowship, and attestation that at least 20% of their practice is focused on geriatric patients.
“There are so many very specific issues and challenges facing geriatric patients in podiatry,” said Earl R. Horowitz, D.P.M., President and Diplomate of the ABMSP. “This new certification is an important step toward ensuring our geriatric community receives the highest-quality and most qualified podiatric treatment. Diplomates who earn the ABMSP certification in Geriatric Podiatry have demonstrated the highest standard of expertise in multiple areas, including fall risk assessment; pharmacology; surgical considerations; geriatric disease processes, and—importantly—family coordination with healthcare providers. I am very proud to have helped support the development of the new certification. Our geriatric population and our podiatric medical community will both benefit from this initiative.”
About ABMSP
The American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry was originally organized by podiatrists for the purpose of granting board certification to office-based and ambulatory foot surgeons. Incorporated in 1986 as the American Institute of Foot Medicine (AIFM), the name was changed in 1992 to better reflect its mission. The Board now offers certification to qualified podiatrists in all areas of podiatric practice: Primary Care in Podiatric Medicine; Foot and Ankle Surgery, both in a hospital setting and in outpatient facilities; Prevention and Treatment of Diabetic Foot Wounds and Foot Wear; Limb Preservation and Salvage; and Geriatric Podiatry. The Board’s certification examinations have been approved for reimbursement by the VA as an educational benefit for eligible veterans. The American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) under the ISO International Standards ANSI/ISO/IEC/17024:2003 for Accreditation for Bodies Operating Certification of Persons. For more information, visit http://www.abmsp.org.
Coleen Young, The American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry (ABMSP), http://www.abmsp.org, +1 (888) 852-1442, [email protected]
Share this article