Board Certifications

4. Pain and Palliative Doctors Compared

Patients can learn some of the differences between pain doctors and palliative doctors by reading the topics included in exams for board certifications. The following are summaries, with more details of each topic in the links given.

The Board Certification for "Pain Management" devotes far more time to assessment and treatment of pain, both drug and non-drug, and a little more time to psychological issues. The Palliative and Hospice subspecialty devotes more time to communication and death. Both devote similar time to legal and ethical issues.

Pain Management Certification
More detailed list is in their booklet, pp.18-22.

Hospice and Palliative Medicine Certification
There is no exam or board subspecialty in Palliative medicine by itself. More detailed list is in their booklet.

Pain Assessment 14%
Diagnostic Testing 11%

Pain Assessment 4.5%

Types of Pain 12%
Pharmacology 16%

Pain Management 10.5%
Other Pain Topics 5%
Palliative Sedation <2%
Other Topics in Medical Management <2%

Psychological/Behavioral Aspects of Pain 10%

Psychosocial and Spiritual Considerations 11%
(of which 7% is psychosocial)

Compensation/Disability and Medical‐Legal Issues 7%

Ethical and Legal Decision Making 7%

Pain Medicine Therapies (Nonpharmacology) 15%

Additional Management Strategies (mostly nondrug) 2.5%

Anatomy and Physiology 15%

Approach to Care 9%
Communication and Teamwork 6%

Other Common Conditions (other than pain) 15%
Urgent Medical Conditions 5%
Prognostication and Natural History of Serious Illness 8%

Impending Death 9%
Grief and Bereavement 5% 
Discontinuation of Technological Support (breathing, dialysis, etc.) 1.5%