Finding a board certified neurosurgeon is important should you be a victim of stroke, or some other neurological disease or problem that requires the skills of a neurosurgeon.
What is a neurosurgeon, What do they do?
Neurosurgeons are surgeons that specialize in performing surgeries for disorders of the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their supporting structures and vascular supply; their job also includes the evaluation and treatment of pathological processes that modify the function or activity of the nervous system.
Neurological Surgery is preformed on everyone from babies to adults, or anyone that may have a disorder of the nervous system. Disorders of the nervous system include: disorders of the brain, meninges, and skull, and their blood supply, including the extracranial carotid and vertebral arteries; disorders of the pituitary gland; disorders of the spinal cord, meninges, and vertebral column, etc.
So, as you can see, there is a lot to know if you are a neurosurgeon.
What does it mean to be board certified?
To become board certified, basically the board of neurological surgery (ABNS) has to evaluate you and determine if you are qualified to be a neurosurgeon.
The ABNS is a great organization and it is not a cake walk to get board certified. The goals of the ABNS are to:
Define requirements for training in neurological surgery
Develop and administer the Primary Examination
Evaluate the credentials of candidates for certification, including professional practice
Develop and administer the oral examination
Issue certificates
Define the requirements for Maintenance of Certification (MOC) in neurological surgery
It is through this society that neurosurgeons become board certified, and a certificate, once granted, is verification of the completion of educational, peer review, and examination processes. So, as you can see, board certification means that you can rest assured that the surgeon that will be looking at your brain and operating on it, is qualified to do so. Which is a nice thing to know to give you some piece of mind.
Something that is good to know is that it is not like a once you pass you are finished, such as the driver’s license. To become a board certified neurosurgeon you must maintain your certificate. Exams and assessments must be retaken every few years to keep your board certified status. Also, the neurosurgeons that are board certified must stay up to date with the newest procedures and equipment, so board certification is also like a continuing education indicator. If your neurosurgeon is board certified, you can bet he or she attends classes each year to learn about and implement any new information regarding their field of expertise.
How do you find a board certified neurosurgeon?
Basically there are a few ways you can go about finding a board certified neurosurgeon. You can call your local facilities and ask if they have any board certified neurosurgeons. You can use an online resource, for example, The Find A Board-Certified Neurosurgeon online service can help you locate a physician in your area. This is a great way to locate surgeons that are board certified, but it is not a referral to or recommendation of such surgeons, so it is not like it says this is the best one, it just says this is one in your area.
You can also visit ABNS.org and fill out some basic location information and they will help you to locate a nearby board certified neurosurgeon, or you can call or fax them as well for a list of board certified neurosurgeons. To get their phone and fax numbers visit their website.