Patients

Anesthesia is safest when a board-certified anesthesiologist is involved

The gold standard of anesthesiology

What drives us?

The ABA’s mission is to advance the highest standards of the practice of anesthesiology. Patient safety is at the forefront of our organization as we ensure anesthesiologists have the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality patient care.

Board Certification Matters

What is board certification?

Board certification demonstrates that a physician is meeting the highest standards of their practice in a medical specialty. It is a voluntary process that involves rigorous assessments of physicians’ knowledge and skills. Unlike medical licensure, which is required and sets the minimum competency requirements to diagnose and treat patients, certification is a mark of distinction.

Physicians, healthcare institutions, insurers and quality organizations look for board certification as a measure of a physician’s ability to provide quality healthcare within a given specialty.

Is your doctor maintaining board certification?

Medical practice is constantly evolving, making it essential for physicians to keep their knowledge and skills up to date to provide high-quality patient care.

Our Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology program (MOCA) allows physicians to continuously assess their knowledge and participate in continuing medical education to stay up to date. Check your anesthesiologist’s MOCA status in our Candidate/Diplomate Directory.

What questions should you ask your anesthesiologist?

Are you certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology?

What type of anesthesia do you recommend for my procedure?

What are the risks and benefits of this type of anesthesia?

What are the alternatives and the risks and benefits of these alternatives?

Will I wake up with the breathing tube in place?

Will I require a breathing tube?

What are the options for pain management after my procedure or surgery?

How can I avoid nausea and vomiting after surgery? What are the treatment options for this condition?

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Check a physician's board certification status

Verify a physician’s certification status with our easy-to-use searchable tool.

The ABA plays a distinct role in addressing biases to improve healthcare outcomes for patients

Learn more about our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives

Our DEI Approach

Have questions about our work? Reach out!

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