Christopher Kane, MD, CEO of UC San Diego Health Physician Group, explains the unique and valuable role academic health systems like UC San Diego Health play in patient lives and for our nation’s health care system.
Choosing a new primary care doctor or specialist can be an overwhelming task, particularly for patients experiencing the added stress of being diagnosed with a new condition.
When it comes to making sure you are choosing the right doctor for your care, new research, published in The Journal of Urology, shows that a specialist with board certification should be strongly considered.
Every doctor must be licensed by the state where they practice, but specialty board certification is a voluntary extra step with a commitment to higher standards of knowledge, patient care and continuing education. Many academic health systems, including UC San Diego Health, require all of their specialists to be board certified.
While the research focused specifically on American Board of Urology certification, the findings appear to apply across medical specialties.
In this Q&A, Christopher Kane, MD, lead author of the study, CEO of UC San Diego Health Physician Group and recent recipient of the 2024 Joseph A Smith Jr. Award recognizing outstanding leaders and mentors in urologic oncology, discusses the results, how they can help guide consumer decisions and other tips to help patients choose the right doctor for their care.
Christopher Kane, MD, urologist and lead author of the study. Photo credit: Kyle Dykes, UC San Diego Health
Why is this study important for patients and physicians?
Our goal with this research was to ensure the certification process is effective in providing the highest quality of specialty care, to provide guidance for patients and to validate the meaning and value of certification for physicians.
This was the largest study of its kind and required years of review of certification data against records of adverse actions taken by state licensing agencies. State actions are taken in response to everything from patient complaints and negative outcomes to legal action or involvement in crime, with outcomes defined as severe (surrendered, suspended, denied licenses) or moderate (requiring additional review, imposed conditions, fines, reprimands and probations).
The data proves that doctors who pass the multi-step certification process on their first attempt have a very low chance of facing adverse actions at any point in their careers. Conversely, failure to complete or repeated attempts at board certification were associated with increased rates of disciplinary actions. The reasons for this association were not specifically studied but my experience as a trustee on the American Board of Urology indicates they include gaps in knowledge, professionalism or communication skills.
How can patients use the study to make better informed selections when choosing a doctor?
The study tells patients exactly why they should always choose a board-certified doctor. Patients can visit the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) web site to verify doctor certification status. The nonprofit organization represents 24 certifying boards that provide certification for 38 specialties and 89 subspecialties. It estimates that up to 80% of physicians in the United States are board certified.
“Our goal with this research was to ensure the certification process is effective in providing the highest quality of specialty care, to provide guidance for patients and to validate the meaning and value of certification for physicians.”
Christopher Kane, MD, CEO of UC San Diego Health Physician Group and urologist
Do you have any other tips for choosing the right physician?
You can learn a great deal by checking for national rankings, patient reviews, awards or certifications at the health system or specialty level. For example, Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health is the region’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Many of the specialties at UC San Diego Health are repeatedly ranked among the top 50 in the nation by respected publications, such as U.S. News & World Report. Those types of awards and designations tend to attract the best and brightest doctors.
It can also be helpful for patients — particularly those with serious or complex medical conditions — to consider getting an opinion or care by physicians affiliated with a major academic medical center if that is available in the area. Generally, academic health system physicians are not only seeing patients, they are also involved in university-level teaching and research that tends to keep them on top of the advancements in their field. They may also have access to clinical trials available to patients.
Finally, it’s important to think beyond the credentials and accolades and ensure you are going to have a good experience. Understanding your physician’s communication style, surgical case history and hearing from other patients, is an effective way to help choose a physician who is aligned with the approach and bedside manner you prefer.
Looking for a New Doctor?
At the region’s only academic health system, you’ll find a wide range of board certified specialists dedicated to using the latest advances in medicine to keep you and your family feeling your best.