Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Bruce N. Edwards, M.D. AAOS
- Joseph N. Holobinko, M.D. AAOS
- Donald A. Patterson, M.D. AAOS
- Gary M. Sherman, M.D. AAOS
- Michael A. Winslow, M.D. AAOS
- Scott P. Worrell, M.D. AAOS
Pain Management & Rehabilitation Physicians
Physician Assistants
Physician assistants (PAs) are medical professionals who provide health care under the supervision of physicians. PAs typically perform diagnostic, therapeutic, preventative and health maintenance services and can also prescribe medicine for their patients. Many PAs specialize in areas such as surgery.
PAs, who usually have a Bachelor’s degree and often a Master’s degree too, must complete an accredited physician assistant program that takes from 25 to 27 months. All physician assistants must be licensed by the states where they practice. Those who use the credential PA-C after their names have also passed an additional exam from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. To remain certified, PAs must continue their medical education and pass another exam every six years.
Nurse Practitioners
Nurse Practitioners are licensed independent practitioners who practice in ambulatory, acute and long term care as primary and/or specialty care providers. A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with specialized advanced education and clinical competency who in collaboration with health care professionals to assess, diagnose, treatment.
Physical Therapists
Physical Therapists (PTs) are medical professionals who help restore function, improve mobility, and relieve pain for patients with medical problems such as back pain, fractures, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions. (Click here for more information about physical therapy)
Physical Therapists must have a Bachelor’s degree and at least a Master’s degree from an accredited physical therapy program. Some PT programs also offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. In addition to educational requirements, all states also require PTs to pass a national exam to be licensed.
What do medical credentials mean?
Education: Becoming a doctor is a long process: four years of undergraduate education, with an emphasis on science, at a college or university; four more years at a medical school; and then three to ten more years in specialized training.
Residency: three to seven years of specialized training under the supervision of senior physician educators. The first year of a residency program is sometimes called an internship. The length of a residency program varies with the specialty. General surgery usually requires five years.
Fellowship: an additional one to three years of training for doctors who want to be highly specialized in a particular field, such as sports medicine or surgery on particular areas, such as hands or spine.
Credentials: All doctors must be licensed by the states where they practice. Licensing requires completing the required amount of education and passing a series of rigorous exams.
Board Certified: In addition to the required state licenses, most doctors
today also choose to become board-certified, which demonstrates that they
have the knowledge, skills and experience to provide quality patient care
in a particular specialty.
To be board-certified, a physician must complete an accredited residency
program and pass a written exam (and sometimes an oral exam also) given
by one of the 24-member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties.
All of our Robinwood Orthopaedics doctors are board-certified with either the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons (ABOS) or the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR).
A physician who has met all the requirements for board certification and has passed the certifying examination given by an ABMS Member Board is considered a diplomate of that board.
To remain board-certified, every six to ten years doctors undergo a maintenance of certification process, which demonstrates continuing competency through additional education in the specialty, formal exams, and assessment of their clinical practice.
Professional Relationship with Hospitals:
Before a doctor can admit patients or practice within a hospital, he or
she must be granted hospital privileges. During the credentialing process,
the hospital verifies that a doctor is qualified by checking with medical
schools, peer references, regulatory agencies, and previous work places.
Hospitals have various levels of privileges, which can reflect the amount of time a doctor has had privileges at the hospital (such as provisional, associate and active) or how often the doctor uses that hospital. Active privileges or active staff member means that a hospital is a primary institution for a doctor. Courtesy privileges implies that a doctor practices there less frequently. Consulting privileges are for doctors with a specialty that the hospital may call in as needed.
Chief of a hospital department, such as chief of surgery, is an elected
position, chosen by that department’s staff. At the Washington County
Hospital, these positions are two-year terms.
Professional Organizations: Professional organizations are important for both continuing education and the informal exchange of ideas.
Many medical professional associations refer to members as Fellows.
Doctors often belong to several professional associations, both professional associations for their medical specialties (such as the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery and American Foot and Ankle Society) and geographically-based organizations like the Washington County Medical Society or the Maryland State Medical Society (also called MedChi). At its founding in 1799, MedChi was originally named the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland because chirurgical was the common spelling of surgical at that time. In 1999, the name was changed to MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society.
