The privilege and responsibility of self-regulation for physicians: A “win-win” for the physician community and our patients

Background: Physicians have long understood that the privilege of professional autonomy would only continue to be granted to the profession by demonstration of effective self-regulation.Discussion: Although initiatives in demonstration of continued fitness for practice are sometimes looked upon with concern by practicing physicians, there is the potential that alignment of maintenance of certification, osteopathic continuous certification, and maintenance of licensure could actually reduce the inefficiencies and redundancies of the current regulation system for physicians.Results: Collaboration among educational, testing, accreditation, certification, and licensure communities is essential to ensure that redundancy is reduced and barriers to practice are avoided, to retain the privilege of self-regulation, while at the same time honoring the profession's responsibility to ensure that those who are caring for patients are indeed remaining competent to do so.