American Board of Podiatric Surgery certification

There is a written portion and and oral portion to the test. The oral portion involves the applicant's being interviewed and asked questions about various principles and techniques and is presented surgical case situations for analysis, but there is no opportunity to see the applicant actually participate in surgery. Hospitals DO credential their staff, and often that involves observing a staff member as he/she performs specific surgeries which will attest to capability and competence. This is termed "delineation of privileges."The first surgery which I performed when I gained hospital privileges was observed by the then Chief of Podiatric Surgery at that hospital. As chief of my hospital's Podiatry Department, I or someone of my designation does this. Staff members may not be automatically granted privileges to perform all procedures allowed by the laws of the state in which I practice. This is one of the benefits of selecting a doctor who practices at a first-grade hospital. Keep in mind that also in a hospital setting, as opposed to one's office, it is difficult to keep incompetence a secret, as one's work is continually under display to those who know what they are looking at.

 

Thank you for your response. Do you know if the process is similar for foot and ankle orthopedists?

Your response makes me more confident in my upcomming very complex surgery which will be performed by the chief of foot and ankle at a TOP ranked orthopedic hospital. A modfied kinder performed a year ago by a supposedly good podiatrist repaired the tendon without correcting the underlying allignment problems which has left me with a severely degenerated posterior tibial tendon and spring ligament. I fully checked my current orthopedic surgeon out. An excellent pt I know called a foot and ankle surgeon he used to work with to find out about my current doctor. The response was that my doctor has excellent technichal skills and is very very well regarded in the foot and akle community. I guess you can't get a much better endorsement.

Still, I am very nervous about undergoing a three hour surgery which will require me to be NWB for two months followed by two plus months in a cast or boot.

Thank you agai for your response

 

I do not know what, if any special certification there is for general orthopedists who specialize and term themselves "foot and ankle specialist." The degree and specialty is irrelevant as opposed to the individual doctor's skill, knowledge and experience.