| No doctor will tell you outright whether he/she | | | | * Physician or surgeon has been practicing |
| has been disciplined or had one or more | | | | medicine five years or more. |
| malpractice judgments issued against him/her. The | | | | * Research to see if they have teaching |
| only way to find out, is to ask or research the | | | | responsibilities at any hospitals etc. |
| surgeon or physician yourself. | | | | * Look for a physician or surgeon who has been |
| Free Doctor Information | | | | practicing medicine for five years or more. |
| Is there such a thing as free doctor information? | | | | * Research to see if they have teaching |
| Absolutely; you can find free doctor information | | | | responsibilities at any hospitals or other medical |
| by contacting your state medical board or by | | | | institutions |
| browsing online. The question is, how much | | | | * Find out how much of the physician’s |
| information can you get for free and how | | | | practice focuses on the medical condition/surgery |
| accurate will it be? Most state medical boards do | | | | you request. |
| not charge; however, most (if not all) offer limited | | | | * Find out if the physician/surgeon has any |
| background information on doctors. Very few | | | | awards, or is involved in his/her community. |
| establishments (less than a handful) specialize in | | | | Research a Doctor |
| providing information relating to doctor’s | | | | How do I research a doctor? The Internet is |
| credentials. That’s why it’s important to | | | | loaded with many sites which claim to have |
| find out how credible the company is, and what | | | | information about doctors’ credentials |
| type of doctor-related information they offer. | | | | information. And yes, most of them do; however, |
| Doctors’ Credentials | | | | you want to make sure you get more than just |
| Just by looking at a doctor’s credentials will | | | | a doctor’s license number and contact |
| not guarantee you will receive high quality health | | | | information. For more comprehensive information, |
| care. However, you can use several important | | | | consider contacting the following sources. |
| criteria to find an experienced well-trained | | | | * Your local library |
| physicians or surgeon. | | | | * Your state medical board |
| Tips: | | | | * The American Board of Medical Specialties |
| * If your are looking for a specialist, make sure | | | | (ABMS), a non-profit organization comprising 24 |
| he/she is board-certified in his/her respective field | | | | medical specialty boards. |
| of specialty. | | | | * The medical society relevant to your intended |
| * Make sure no disciplinary actions has been | | | | physician or surgeon’s field of specialty. |
| instituted. | | | | * American Medical Association , if a member |
| * Look closely at malpractice judgments, and how | | | | Bottom line |
| many have been brought against the practitioner | | | | Every physician or surgeon has a different |
| (more than three is not good) | | | | background of experience and training. The more |
| * Find out if he/she is fellowship-trained in their | | | | research you conduct into this background, the |
| specialty field. This-is usually a good sign. | | | | more it will increase your chances of finding a |
| * Look for hospital affiliations or membership | | | | health-care provider who will satisfy your medical |
| affiliations; the more there are, the better. | | | | needs. |