Partner Acting: American Board of Medical Specialties
To raise the standard of patient care, the American Board of Medical Specialties, which oversees certifications in medical specialties, is adding an assessment of certified physicians’ communications skills with their patients and fellow caregivers. In 2010, board-certified physicians must demonstrate good communications skills using approved surveys, such as the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Provider and Systems (CAHPS). Research and common sense dictate that caregivers who communicate well empower patients with information that helps them take a more active role in making healthcare decisions. Good communication among professional caregivers also leads to better, safer, more patient-centered care.
The CAHPS survey asks patients a number of questions, including:
- How often did nurses explain things to you in a way you could understand?
- How often did doctors listen carefully to you?
- How often did the hospital staff do everything it could to help you with your pain?
Making good communications skills part of certification elevates its importance as a professional skill that is imperative to making care safer and more effective. Learn more about the new round of standards to the ABMS MOC program.
Supporting Resources