Understanding Medical Credentials

Once you know the differences between types of doctors who may treat you, you can look at their credentials to help you compare them.

• Medical Degree (MD) – Identifies that someone became a medical doctor.

• Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) – Identifies that someone became a doctor of osteopathic medicine. A DO is a physician licensed to perform surgery and prescribe medication. Like an MD, an osteopath completes four years of medical school and can choose to practice in any specialty of medicine. However, osteopaths receive an additional 300 to 500 hours in the study of hands-on manual medicine and the body's musculoskeletal system. Unique to DOs (vs. MDs) is their training in mobilization: they can perform manipulations called adjustments, which involve the movement of tissue by the laying on of hands.

• Licensed to practice – Each state in the U.S. will provide a license to physicians who are authorized to practice medicine within that specific state.

• Fellowship in Pain Medicine – A physician who has completed a fellowship in pain medicine received extensive hands-on training specifically in treating pain.

• Board Certified in Pain Medicine – A physician who is board certified in pain medicine acquired training to meet the criteria recognized for the specialty of pain medicine.

• Certificates of Added Qualifications in the sub-specialty of Pain Management – indicates that someone has passed an examination in pain management offered by their original specialty board.

• Pain Specialty Society Memberships – Physicians may also be members of physician groups that focus on pain, including but not limited to, the:
  • American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM),
  • American Academy of Pain Management (also goes by AAPM),
  • North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS),
  • International Neuromodulation Society (INS)
  • American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP)
    • American Pain Society (APS) and/or its regional societies including
    • New England Pain Society
    • Midwest Pain Society
    • Southern Pain Society
    • Western Pain Society
    • Eastern Pain Society

Whenever you seek treatment from a physician, it is a good idea to find out if he or she is licensed to practice medicine in the state where you will receive care, to look into what his or her malpractice history may be, and to check if his or her stated credentials are accurate. You can verify if a physician is licensed to practice and what their medical malpractice background may be by contacting your local state medical board or the National Physician Database on the Internet. You can verify if they are a diplomate (board certified) in pain medicine by contacting the American Board of Pain Medicine (ABPM) at (847) 375-4726 or by visiting the ABPM web site.