Board Certification of Orthopaedic Surgeons
A board-certified physician has completed an approved educational training program and an evaluation process including an examination designed to assess the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to provide quality patient care in that specialty. A specialty certificate is issued by a medical specialty certifying board, which is valid nationwide. Although certification is not required for an individual physician to practice medicine, most hospitals, and managed care organizations require that at least a certain percentage of their staff be "board certified" (American Board of Medical Specialties).