
Definition of Pediatric Neurological Surgery
Pediatric
neurological surgery is a discipline of medicine and the
specialty of neurosurgery which deals with the diagnosis, evaluation
and
treatment of disorders of the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous
systems
of children. Pediatric neurological surgery includes the evaluation and
diagnosis, operative and non-operative treatment, critical care and
rehabilitation of children with disorders of the nervous system.
Mission of the ABPNS
The
broad aim of the
American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery is to encourage the
study,
improve the practice and elevate the standards of pediatric
neurological
surgery, and thereby to advance the cause of public health.
History of ABPNS
In
order to establish
and codify the optimal training and practice requirements for pediatric
neurosurgeons, forty senior pediatric neurosurgeons from the USA and
Canada met
in Chicago in the early summer of 1991. By unanimous vote,
they founded
the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery (ABPNS) to fulfill
these
functions. Subsequently, the Accreditation Council for
Pediatric
Neurosurgical Fellowships (ACPNF) was created to oversee and regulate
pediatric
neurosurgical fellowship programs.
Certification and Recertification
In
an effort to reduce
the burden and time commitment of the certification and recertification
processes, the ABNS and ABPNS is committed to merging the certification
process, as well as the continuous certification process (formerly
known as
MOC) for pediatric and adult certification.
The
ABPNS has
established a new process in collaboration with the ABNS and the
RCPS(C) for
certifying pediatric neurosurgeons who have completed an
ACPNF-accredited
fellowship. Although slightly different for those seeking ABNS and
those
certified by the Royal College, the process of pediatric certification
contains
the same basic components. These include a written examination,
submission of a
practice case log, and an oral examination including questions based on
the
applicant’s case log.
The ABNS-ABPNS and the ABPNS-RCPSC joint certificates are ten year time limited. Diplomates will be responsible for participating in a Continuous Certification (CC) process via the ABNS/ABPNS. Ten years after initial certification, Diplomates are required to undergo mandatory recertification. Those seeking recertification will now need to submit application and 12 month case log demonstrating at least 65 pediatric (age 21 and under) surgical cases. Additionally, proof of active participation in the ABNS CC process will need to be provided. This is in lieu of a written examination.
The
ABPNS is an Ohio
nonprofit corporation that is now a well-established and accepted
certifying
body, and has become the standard accreditation authority for pediatric
neurological surgery in the United States and Canada.
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