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