Petr Slapnicka, M.D., of Wenatchee Valley Medical Center has passed the Maintenance of Certification exam and has been recertified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Slapnicka joined WVMC in 1999 and is a key member of its Internal Medicine Department. He received his medical degree in 1985 from the University of J.E. Purkyne in Brno, Czech Republic, and in 1999 he completed a four-year residency in internal medicine at the Polyclinic Medical Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The American Board of Internal Medicine established the Maintenance of Certification process (commonly referred to as “recertification”) to promote lifelong learning and the enhancement of the clinical judgment and skills essential for high quality patient care. Every 10 years, internists and subspecialists certified in or after 1990 must renew their certificates. To achieve recertification, a physician must complete a self evaluation, have his/her credentials verified, and pass the rigorous Maintenance of Certification exam.

The exam is designed to evaluate the extent of a physician’s knowledge and clinical judgment in the areas in which internists should demonstrate high levels of competence. Expertise is assessed in the broad domain of internal medicine and the diagnosis and treatment of both common and rare conditions that have important consequences for patient.