Researching Your Doctor: The Why, Where And How.People use the internet to research all sorts of things, a computer, a car, a house or while applying for a new job. So why not research doctors? How do you research doctors? Or rather, why do you research a doctor and do background checks? All physicians, doctors and surgeons do not have the same credentials. They certainly won't have the same training or the same experience. Neither is a doctor going to tell you if he or she has been disciplined or sued for malpractice or negligence. It is always safer to do a background check or research the doctor before you decide to put your life in his or her hands. It is possible to get some information about doctors for free from medical boards of particular states, or online. You will not get all the information about doctors for free. There are very few places on the Internet also that will give you comprehensive information about the doctor or physician you are considering. Where to research doctors? There are several places on the Internet that you can go to for information on doctors. * The American Medical Association's DoctorFinder has a list of more than 700,000 doctors with their basic information. These doctors are members and non-members of the AMA and those members of the AMA have to adhere to strict rules and have high standards where ethics are concerned. * Each State has a Medical Board, which has all the necessary information about doctors or physicians. States like California, Connecticut and New York make it compulsory for doctors to give information about discipline issues and suits filed for negligence or malpractice. * You can get doctor's reports from the Federation of State Medical Boards which has a service called Doc-info. Doc-info requires all the doctors to record their disciplinary issues and other issues. These records are being maintained since the 1960s. These reports are comprehensive and can be available for $10. * Other than the Internet, you can also check at local libraries for relevant information. * Also check out the American Board of Medical Specialties for information relevant to specialized doctors. Tips for checking credentials or research * If it is a specialist like a cardiologist or oncologist you are looking for, it is always better to check for their board certification in their field of specialization. * Check for disciplinary actions or suits filed for negligence or malpractice. * Check for malpractices very carefully, if more than three malpractices suits are filed, this does not reflect well on the doctor's credentials. * Check for fellowship trainings. These are an added advantage for physician's credentials. * Check if the physician or doctor is affiliated with hospitals or has memberships. The more hospital and membership affiliations, the better the credentials. * A physician or surgeon should be practicing for more than five years. * Look for teaching roles in hospitals, this reflects well. * Check for awards or community work. Always conduct a thorough and comprehensive check on doctors or physicians. You are putting your life or the lives of the ones you love in their hands and hence, research is necessary. |