[ST-14] Statement on Certificates of Special or Added Qualifications
[by the American College of Surgeons]
The American College of Surgeons wishes to make the following
statement regarding certificates of special or added qualifications:
The American College of Surgeons expects that all surgeons
who are certified by a surgical specialty board are qualified
to practice in the areas defined by that board if they so desire
and if they demonstrate the capability to do so. Certificates
of special or added qualifications are designed to recognize
specialists who have acquired further education and training
in a narrower discipline within that specialty. The existence
of such certificates does not imply that a specialist who does
not hold them should be excluded from areas of practice that
are considered to be within the realm of the specialty as defined
by the primary board. Surgical critical care is a prime example
of this issue. The granting of surgical privileges should be
based upon the surgeon's record of training, experience, and
demonstrated performance in the areas of practice that are associated
with the specialty, rather than being focused exclusively upon
the holding of a certificate of special or added qualifications.
Statements
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Reprinted from Bulletin of the American College
of Surgeons
Vol. 77, No. 4, Page 32, April 1992
