Tampa, FL- A recent study published in the winter, 2014 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Medicine® (AJCM)concluded that the care delivered by family medicine physicians is comparable to patient care provided by OB/GYN specialists. This conclusion is reinforced and demonstrated when a physician becomes board certified through the Board of Certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics (BCFMO), which is administered by the American Board of Physician Specialties®.

According to the data compiled during the eight-year period between Jan. 1, 2003 and Dec. 31, 2011, a qualified, experienced practitioner of family medicine obstetrics is perfectly capable of performing all of the delivery and post-delivery responsibilities associated with the OB/GYN specialty, including high-risk pregnancies and pre-term deliveries.

“This is particularly significant in under-served rural areas, where family medicine physicians often are called upon to provide care across a wide spectrum of specialties,” said Daniel M Avery, MD, professor and chair of OB/GYN at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and a member of the Board of Certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics (BCFMO).

The study covers all levels of obstetric care, including pre-natal care and high-risk pregnancies. Furthermore, the study shows that the overall cesarean rate of family medicine obstetricians is lower than the rates for OB/GYN specialists, while the rates of complications are virtually the same for both groups. “The bottom line − family medicine practitioners who provide obstetric care can work independently of OB/GYN backup,” Avery said.

A qualified family medicine physician can demonstrate his or her ability to provide the best obstetrics care available through board certification from the BCFMO, a member Board of the American Board of Physician Specialties. Eligibility requirements include, but are not limited to:

•     Completion of a fellowship recognized by the BCFMO, or five or more years of practice in obstetrics (available through 2018)
•     Submission of a case list of deliveries
•     Verified staff privileges at every hospital where the physician practices
•     Board certification in Family Medicine from the ABPS, the ABMS or the AOA

For more information about becoming board certified in Family Medicine Obstetrics through the BCFMO, contact the ABPS today at (813) 433-2277.

ABPS is the official board certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc.® (AAPS) and AJCM is the official, peer-reviewed journal of AAPS.