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Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon: How to Verify Credentials

In the best of all possible worlds, we would be able to look at an advertisement for a rhinoplasty surgeon and trust that what it said was true. We would be able to sit in the surgeon’s office and not have to read each and every certificate on the wall to see if they are current. Until we all live in that world, we have to verify a doctor’s credentials to make sure he is a board-certified plastic surgeon.

One of the most important steps during the search for the right surgeon is to verify his accreditation and credentials. You can make sure a plastic surgeon is board certified, by going to the American Board of Medical Specialties' website. You have to register, but registration is free. You can also verify a surgeon's certification over the phone by calling 1-866-ASK-ABMS (or 1-866-275-2267).

You can make sure that your surgeon's medical license is valid by either writing the medical board for your state or by visiting your state's medical board website. Here is a list of their addresses. A state medical board is the state agency that oversees the licensing of physicians and surgeons (and sometimes other professions). Some state medical board websites show if the surgeon has been involved in a disciplinary action issued by the state.

Checking on Malpractice Lawsuits

Medical malpractice is a very scary subject for both doctors and patients. There are frivolous lawsuits and ones that have merit. There are great surgeons who have been sued and there are bad surgeons who haven't been sued yet. If you do find that your surgeon has been involved in a recent lawsuit, ask why. You have a right to know unless there is a specific gag order regarding the details. However the gag order is usually regarding the amount settled, not why.

Malpractice lawsuits can be filed because the results were not what the patient expected or if something unforeseen (undiagnosed medical conditions, anesthesia complications, etc.) happened that was no one’s fault. The basis of a medical malpractice suit is supposed to be negligence, where the physician or surgeon administered care that was substandard in that particular medical community or specialty.

To find out about lawsuits, you can go to the courthouse for the county where your surgeon practices and perform a search for litigations, arbitrations, trials, and such. Ask in the county clerk’s office for specific instructions and etiquette on how to do this. Some courts charge a fee for copies of the documents. Some malpractice information may be found instead at the Superior Court Office.

You can also seek the services of private and semiprivate firms at websites such as http://www.WestLaw.com, http://www.USLaw.com, and http://www.e-law.com.

And, thanks to the internet, you can find out just about anything on anyone. You might find something useful by just doing a Google search using your surgeon’s name. Then again, you might not.

Verifying a Surgery Center's Accreditation

If your surgery is to be performed at a freestanding surgical center or surgical suite in your surgeon’s office, check to see if it is accredited. Accreditation associations ensure that surgery centers are well equipped, have equipment to properly sterilize instruments, have an emergency protocol, have proper emergency equipment such as a crash cart on hand, and are easily accessible to emergency vehicles.

Here are the four accreditation associations in the United States, and one in Canada:

Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
3201 Old Glenview Road
Suite 300 Wilmette
Illinois 60091
Telephone: (847) 853-6060
Fax: (847) 853-9028
Website: http://www.aaahc.org

American Association for Accreditation for Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF)
1202 Allanson Road
Mundelein, Illinois 60060
Toll-free: (888) 545-5222
Fax: (847) 566-4580
Website: http://www.aaaasf.org

American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
142 East Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone: (312) 202-8000
Fax: (312) 202-8200
Website: http://www.aoa-net.org

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181
Telephone: (630) 792-5000
Fax: (630) 792-5005
Website: www.jcaho.org

Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities
2334 Heska Rd.,
Pickering, Ontario Canada L1V 2P9
Telephone: (905) 831-5804
Fax: (905) 831-7248
Website: http://www.caaasf.org