Dr. Barnhill recertified

FRANK BARNHILL, M.D.

Frank Barnhill, M.D., a Gaffney family physician, was recently recertified as a diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice (ABFM), the certifying body for the specialty of family medicine.

Dr. Barnhill earned diplomate status by passing the ABFM's certification examination, an intensive written test of a physician's knowledge in pediatrics, internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, psychiatry, prevention and other aspects of family practice.

In 1969, family practice was recognized as a medical specialty by the American Medical Association and the American Board of Medical Specialties. Family practice's specialty board was the first to issue time-limited certificates and to require mandatory recertification every seven years.

Diplomates are required to successfully complete all four components of the Maintenance of Certification for Family Physicians (MCFP) program requirements throughout their seven-year certification term. The components include: evidence of professional standing, lifelong learning and self-assessment, cognitive expertise and evaluation/ enhancement of practice performance. These components are designed to continuously measure competency in: medical knowledge, patient care, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, practice-based learning and improvement, and systems based practice.

The specialty of family practice combines the latest in medical technologies with a long tradition of caring and service. Family physicians evaluate and treat an individual as a whole person, taking into account all the factors that can affect health and wellbeing - genetics, family history, diet, prevention, mental health and chronic disease management.

The AAFP was instrumental in establishing the specialty of family practice and was also the first medical specialty organization to require its members to earn 150 hours of approved continuing medical education every three years. It is the only medical specialty organization devoted solely to primary care.

Nearly one in four of all medical office visits are made to general and family physicians. That's 207 million office visits each year - 62 million more than any other medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide the majority of care for America's underserved and rural populations.