It's best if the person who operates on your colon is a colorectal surgeon rather than a general surgeon. Why? Because board-certified colorectal surgeons are able to focus on one specific area of the body. They spend their time learning about and gaining experience specifically in colorectal diseases.
According to the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery (ABCRS), a board-certified colorectal surgeon has successfully completed at least a five-year ACGME-approved training program in general surgery and one additional year in an ACGME-approved colon and rectal surgery residency. (ACGME is the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.) The doctor has also passed both written (qualifying) and oral (certifying) exams given by the ABCRS. The certification is only good for 10 years, so it keeps surgeons on their toes. However, doctors who became certified before 1990 are exempt -- they don't need to be re-tested.
You can find out if the doctors on your list are board-certified colorectal surgeons by visiting the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) website or by calling the ABMS at 1-866-ASK-ABMS. You have to register to use the website, which is a pain, but registration is free.
Return to How to Find a Colon Surgeon: Seven Questions to Consider.
