Most degrees have particular hurdles that must be passed in order to be considered an expert, and the medical field is the leader in setting the bar high. Several educational hurdles must be successfully met to obtain the status of being a board-certified physician.
“Few people realize that every person who is successfully graduated from medical school is a doctor and can put an “M.D.” after his or her name,” said Advance ER physician Dr. Ron Bryce. “But until that doctor completes a residency, which can take a few years, he is generally not able to practice a particular specialty.”
After serving a residency in a specialty area and obtaining a license, the doctor will then have to prove a certain level of competency by passing a test from the American Board of Medical Specialties. Until he has successfully met this challenge, he can’t claim to be certified in a particular specialty or sub-specialty such as family medicine, pediatrics, cardiology, emergency medicine and others.
A physician calling himself “board-eligible” means he has likely completed his residency and has obtained his license, but has not yet successfully completed his exam for board-certification. Many years ago, doctors had been able to spend their entire careers as “board-eligible,” restricted from hospital privileges but able to practice medicine on their own. Now, physicians are required to pass their board exams within a certain amount of time to move from “licensed” to “board-certified.”
Benefits of Board-Certification
When you have a board-certified physician, you know your physician has his degree, has spent years in post-graduate training and has successfully completed his requirements in the medical field. He is considered an expert in his specialty.
Perhaps more importantly, a board-certified physician shows commitment to continuing education to stay current in his field’s developments throughout the years. “You have to work at keeping your board-certification,” said Dr. Bryce. “It shows dedication to your specialty.”
At Advance ER, we staff only exceptional, board-certified physicians who have many years of experience. On average, our physicians have over 15 years of experience in treating chronic and acute conditions.
Physician vs. Physician Assistant
While more and more doctor’s offices and urgent care centers are using Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners and Certified Nursing Assistants, Advance ER maintains the highest standards by employing only board-certified physicians.
“We’re ready for any emergency at Advance ER,” said Dr. Bryce. “Our physicians are trained and sharpened to be among the best North Dallas has to offer. We really do have an extraordinary staff at Advance ER.”
Advance ER
At Advance ER, your friendly, board-certified physician is ready 24/7 to diagnose and to treat your seasonal illness, chronic pain, acute injuries and other medical concerns. You can relax knowing you’re being treated by an excellent physician who has met and exceeded expectations in his or her training.
His or her years of experience, combined with ready access to in-house imaging equipment, rapid-results labs and pharmacy, can make a difference in the speed and efficiency of your treatment.
“We’ve implemented a lot of ground-breaking practices at Advance ER,” said Dr. Bryce. “You will be pleased with your care and with the personalized care that your board-certified physician has to offer.”
Meet Dr. Ron Bryce:
Ron Bryce, M.D., is board-certified in family practice. Dr. Bryce received his medical degree from Oral Roberts University School of Medicine, Tulsa, OK. He completed his residency at John P Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, TX.
Experienced with providing both emergency and routine care for patients of all ages, Dr. Bryce believes in keeping the lines of communication open with his patients and in treating them like family.
