When it comes to “certifications,” let the buyer be-aware.

With the advent of the Internet, the number of questionable certifications has increased. Websites sponsored by these organizations may look quite official, so it is important that patients carefully evaluate the endorsements they make. One such organization has received attention lately for allegedly endorsing surgeons who have poor records but retain their certification as long as they continue to pay a substantial membership fee to the organizer.

As a matter of principle, Dr. Hollingshead does not affiliate himself with organizations that sponsor certifications based solely on the surgeon’s willingness to file paperwork and pay a fee. These “certifications” often amount to little more than marketing endorsements; many of them are referral services masquerading as patient advocacy groups.