Why I Took the HMDCB Exam and How I’m a Better Physician Because of It

Jeremy Brown, MD HMDC
2015 certificant
Medical director, Hospice of Lubbock
Lubbock, TX

HMDCB: What was it about the HMDCB certification program that appealed to you?

Jeremy Brown, MD HMDC: I appreciated the fact that the program measured both clinical and nonclinical knowledge. As a physician, most of my exams focus only on medical knowledge. As a hospice medical director, not only do I need the clinical knowledge to take care of patients, but I also need a baseline knowledge of the role of social workers, chaplains, bereavement staff, aides, nurses, and others within hospice. Furthermore, the certification program recognizes the need to be well versed in the regulatory guidelines that govern hospice. An intimate knowledge of the rules around face-to-face visits, conditions of participation, and team meetings are crucial for a hospice to thrive.

Why did you decide to apply?

I was encouraged by colleagues to apply, and I wanted to be certified by a national organization, stating that I met the requirements to be a hospice medical director. I missed the window to grandfather in and take the ABIM Hospice and Palliative Medicine Boards. This was a certification that would help validate my practice.