The American Professional Wound Care Association (APWCA) was contacted about two years ago by members of the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine (ACHM) who expressed their opinion that there was a need for a Wound Care Certification for Physicians that was specifically for doctors.  After reviewing options, they concluded that the APWCA was the most appropriate organization for them to work with and collaborate on a Physician Wound Care Certification Exam, specifically for physicians. (Nurses have multiple options including the nurse specific WOCN) An ad hoc committee was established with key members of both organizations which investigated the concept further and found that there is a growing need for some formal process to distinguish those who are skilled in the art and science of wound care. Dr. Bartlett explains “Hospital administrators, managed care organizations, physicians and podiatrists alike noted there is a growing need for some method to specifically recognize physicians working in this area. The field of wound care is no longer a simple affair of wet to dry dressings. Twenty-first century wound care has entered the molecular age of medicine with the advent of advanced therapies that require skill and discernment to achieve cost effective outcomes.” Based on these observations, an examination construction committee was established with members from the two professional societies. This gave a tremendous jump start to the creation of a physician certifying exam.  APWCA supports this initiative, and endorses this as the first and premiere certification in wound care for physicians.  It also recognized by the ACHM. 

To provide testing oversight and management of content for the Physician Wound Care exam and provide support for the potential for additional exams, the Council for Medical Education & Testing was established.

Physician Wound Care Exam

Over 2.5 years in the making, this carefully constructed examination is designed to assess a knowledge base consistent with physicians clinically practicing wound care. The development of this first physician exam is an initial step toward the long term goal of  achieving specialty recognition of wound care by the American Board of Medical Specialties, American Osteopathic Association and the Council of Podiatric Medical Education.  As Robert Bartlett, MD, FAPWCA, Physician Certification Examination Committee Chairman, noted, “the evolution of specialty recognition may not occur for quite some time.  In the interim this exam will provide formal recognition to those practitioners who have substantial expertise in wound management”.  Jeffrey Niezgoda, MD, FAPWCA, co-chairs the Committee.