508-306-8363 Menu

Additional Information About Board Certification

To most patients and referring physicians, Board Certification represents an important consideration in one’s choice of a facial plastic surgeon. We recognize that the issue of Board Certification can be quite confusing, even to doctors themselves.

Dr. Fechner is a Diplomate of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS). This Board Certification in facial plastic surgery ensures that Dr. Fechner has met the scrupulous principles and standards of the ABFPRS.

Study: Americans Prefer Face Specialists

Dr. Fechner’s ABFPRS Board Certification Indicates That:

  • 1. After medical school, he has completed a residency program in one of two surgical specialties with major focus on facial plastic surgery, i.e. otolaryngology – head & neck surgery or plastic surgery;
  • 2. Dr. Fechner is double board certified, that means he has earned certification in one of these specialties through the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS);
  • 3. He has successfully completed a two-day oral and written examination exclusively ensuring his thorough knowledge in facial plastic & reconstructive surgery.
  • 4. Dr. Fechner has substantial clinical experience in facial plastic surgery. He submitted for peer-review an acceptable record of at least two years’ clinical experience, including operative reports of at least 100 facial plastic surgery procedures.
  • 5. He holds proper licensure in the state of medical practice; and
  • 6. Adheres to the ABFPRS Code of Ethics.

What Is A “Board”?

An independent organization that set forth standards for the evaluation process of medical specialties is called a “Board”. To be board certified means that the physician has completed all training and practice requirements published by that particular board. For instance, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology can only certify whether a particular physician completed standards of this specialty.

An overlooking organization of many, but not all, medical specialties is called the ABMS. Dr. Fechner is double board certified by both the ABO (a ABMS member) and the ABFPRS. The ABFPRS is the only American Board that certifies surgeons in the field of facial plastic & reconstructive surgery.

About The ABFPRS

Dr. Fechner is proud to be a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon. The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is located in Alexandria, Virginia. http://www.abfprs.org

It states:

“The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc.® was established in 1986 to improve the quality of medical and surgical treatment available to the public by examining for professional expertise in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

To carry out this mission, the Board has established a mechanism for the education, qualification, training, review, and certification of surgeons specializing in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

The specific objectives of the Board are:

  • To establish standards of qualification for facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons.
  • To determine which candidates fulfill these standards of qualification.
  • To conduct examinations of such candidates and issue certificates upon satisfactory completion of requirements.
  • To improve and broaden the opportunities for graduate education and training of facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons.

The Board is neither an educational institution nor a licensing body, and the certificates it issues are neither degrees nor legal licenses to practice medicine or the specialty of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Possession of a Board certificate indicates neither total qualification for practice privileges nor exclusion of others not so certified.

Board certification in no way limits the professional activities of any licensed physician in delivery of legitimate healthcare services. Finally, certification implies no intent by the Board for its diplomates to gain special privileges, recognition, or hospital staff positions or to define who shall or shall not perform facial plastic and reconstructive procedures. The Board is not a primary source of censure or primary review of ethical problems.”

Schedule Consultation

Contact Us

About The ABO

One of the pre-requisites for becoming a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon is to be certified by The American Board of Otolaryngology. The ABO is located in Houston, Texas. http://www.aboto.org

It states:

“The American Board of Otolaryngology (ABOto) was founded and incorporated in 1924, and is the second oldest of the twenty-four member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). The Board is a non-profit corporation, and the directors and examiners, with the exception of the Executive Vice President and the Examination Chairman, receive no compensation.

Founding members included two representatives from each of the following specialty organizations: the American Laryngological Association, the American Otological Society, the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, and the Section on Laryngology, Otology and Rhinology of the American Medical Association. This group of ten founding members, delegated authority by the above organizations, was established as the ABOto.

Since then, several other organizations have become sponsoring organizations: the American Broncho-Esophagological Association (1947), the American Society for Head and Neck Surgery (1947), the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (1971), the American Society of Ophthalmologic and Otolaryngologic Allergy (1974), the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (1989), the American Neurotology Society (1991), the American Rhinologic Society (1994), the Association of Academic Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (1995), and the Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons (1995).”

About The ABMS

The American Board of Medical Specialties is located in Evanston, Illinois. http://www.abms.org

It states:

“Established in 1933, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), a not-for-profit organization comprising 24 medical specialty Member Boards, is the pre-eminent entity overseeing the certification of physician specialists in the United States.

The primary function of ABMS is to assist its Member Boards in developing and implementing educational and professional standards to evaluate and certify physician specialists. By participating in these initiatives, ABMS also serves as a unique and highly influential voice in the healthcare industry, bringing focus and rigor to issues involving specialization and certification in medicine. ABMS is a designated primary equivalent source of credential information.

Our Mission

ABMS is the organization that establishes standards for physician specialty certification and Maintenance of Certification (MOC), including performance assessment. ABMS communicates information about these standards to support the public’s quest for safe, high-quality healthcare.

Our Vision

Our vision is to be a leader in improving the safety and quality of medical care through ABMS policies and the physician certification processes of Member Boards.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to establish and maintain high standards for the delivery of safe, quality medical care by certified physician specialists.”

Contact

Dr. Frank Fechner

428 Shrewsbury Street,Worcester, MA 01604

Fax: (508) 754-4222 Tel: 508-306-8363

428 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester, MA 01604

WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME YOU BACK TO FECHNER MD!

On behalf of the entire team at Fechner MD Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa, we would like to take a moment to say thank you again for your loyalty and support during this unprecedented time. The past several months have been unlike anything we've ever experienced, and we're working hard to evolve so that we can continue to provide you with the patient experience you have come to expect from our practice.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic, Fechner MD Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa has taken extreme precautionary measures, in addition to following the most up to date CDC recommendations and state guidelines to maximize the health and safety of our patients, staff and facility. Our surgical center and medical spa remain committed to providing the best patient care, and we are actively working to take all necessary precautions as we plan to safely re-open our practice. Please help us continue to protect the health and well-being of our patients and workplace by cooperating with all of our precautionary measures and protocols against COVID-19 at your next appointment, or as you plan for your surgery.

 

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO KEEP YOU AND OUR STAFF SAFE?

As a fully accredited surgical facility, Fechner MD has always observed the highest level of safety and sanitation. In fact, as a surgeon, Dr. Fechner is an expert in infection control. We want to ensure that we are doing everything possible for our patients to safely return for surgical and medical spa treatments alike.

  • Our accredited practice is exclusively reserved for our patients and staff.
  • Our facility is in a single, free standing building only occupied by our practice. This allows us to limit foot traffic to our patients and staff only.
  • Our staff work only at our facility and all travel in private transport. All of us are otherwise self-isolating at home.
  • We closely monitor our staff for symptoms and elevated temperature daily.
  • We sterilize all our instruments in house further reducing potential exposure.
  • We have PPE to meet our needs.
  • All our staff members will be using appropriate PPE including N95 masks and protective facei shields, goggles and head coverings.
  • We have purchased and installed air scrubbers throughout the facility to clean the air while the practice is open to patients.
  • We have purchased and installed ozone generators designed to sanitize the air in the facility at the end of each day.
  • We have purchased and installed touchless hand sanitizer units throughout the building.
  • We have purchased and installed plexi-glass protective shields in the reception area to provide a protective barrier for staff and patients.
  • Our staff continues to adhere to social distancing guidelines within our facility.
  • We have implemented a stringent survey and testing protocol for staff and patients.
  • We have implemented a virtual check in/ check out process for our patients.
  • We have ensured that there is minimum interaction of patients with other people while in the office.
  • We will continue to offer virtual consults and virtual follow up visits.
  • We provide you with a touchless payment system.

The upgraded work flow and safety protocols we have implemented at Fechner MD far exceed those being recommended by any government agency.

 

WHEN WILL FECHNER MD PLASTIC SURGERY & MEDICAL SPA OPEN?

Fechner MD will adhere to all local, state, and government mandates. We expect to cautiously resume medical spa and injectable treatments during Phase 2 of the Massachusetts phased reopening. We are awaiting a definitive date from Governor Baker. Cosmetic surgery is expected to resume during Phase 3 of Governor Baker’s plan. We ask for your patience and understanding as our staff is working diligently to reschedule all surgeries and procedures affected by our closure. Please understand that in order to open and adhere to Massachusetts guidelines, we will need to limit the number of staff and patients we have in our building and extend the time between patient appointments in order to sanitize rooms. This means we will have fewer available openings for procedures. In order to maximize our provider appointments, we will continue to hold consultations virtually rather than in person, with a few exceptions (body contouring, Instalift, vein treatments).

 

WHAT CAN I EXPECT WHEN I BOOK AN APPOINTMENT AT FECHNER MD?

  • We will do our best to accommodate your preferred appointment date and time, but we very much appreciate your flexibility during this unprecedented time.
  • When booking your appointment, we will ask for your payment information to be securely stored in our payment system. The card you provide will be the card used to pay for your services. This will allow for a touchless checkout.
  • Required forms and documents will be sent to you electronically two days prior to your scheduled appointment via our new patient app, Touch MD. Touch MD will allow you to receive, review and sign documents directly from your personal cell phone.
  • One hour prior to your appointment, we will send you the Covid-19 Wellness Screening document to be completed via Touch MD. This must be completed prior to entering the building.

 

WHAT CAN I EXPECT WHEN I ARRIVE FOR MY APPOINTMENT?

  • When you arrive for your scheduled appointment time, we ask that you park and remain in your car. Please send us a text message or call to let us know that you have arrived for your appointment.
  • When your provider is ready for your treatment, she will call or text you to let you know you may proceed to our vestibule.
  • Please leave your coat and personal belongings in your car.
  • Please do not bring along family or friends, unless you require physical assistance. They will not be allowed entry to the building.
  • Please wear your mask prior to entering the building and throughout your appointment. Should your mask need to be removed for treatment, your provider will let you know when to safely remove it.
  • Your provider will greet you at the door and will take a no contact temperature reading. *Any patient with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher will be asked to leave the building and their appointment will be rescheduled a minimum of 14 days later.
  • You will be escorted immediately to a treatment room. Our waiting room will not be open during this time.
  • After your procedure or treatment the provider will collect payment via our secure payment system with the information you provided at booking.
  • Your provider will book a virtual follow up appointment with you, if necessary, and will escort you to the exit.

 

We thank you in advance for your patience throughout this time, and we look forward to seeing you here again as we begin to resume business operations. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Fechner MD Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa at (508) 754-4000 and our team will gladly assist you. Thank you!

Request a Consultation