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.
About the Author: Hugo Gallegos is founder & president of
http://www.mdnationwide.org call Toll Free 1 877-242-8556.
