How to Read Doctor Reviews

You can obtain some valuable information when selecting a physician or checking up on your current physician by reading doctor reviews. These reviews provide information such as where the doctor obtained his degree, how many years he has been in practice, and if he is board certified. Many reviews also offer consumer or patient feedback regarding their experience with a physician. There are some important things to consider when reading doctor reviews in order to get the most valuable and accurate information from them.

Instructions

• 1

  Search for and obtain a doctor review through a reputable source. Visit HealthGrades and Vitals websites to get an idea of the type of reviews you should look at. Keep in mind that you may have to pay a fee for the complete review of a physician.

• 2

  Review the important information. Most reputable doctor reviews will provide important information such as the name of the medical school that the physician attended, the number of years the doctor has been practicing, and if the doctor is board certified. Doctors that are board certified have been tested to ensure that they possess the knowledge, skills, and experience to practice medicine in a specific field.

• 3

  View the consumer or patient feedback that is available. Reputable sources usually have several comments made by other people that have seen the doctor. It is important to remember that the information provided by other individuals may not be completely accurate and may not represent the type of experience that you would have with the same doctor. Consider the feedback from others as a whole instead of each individual comment or rating to get an idea of the overall experience that others have with the doctor.

• 4

  Consider any additional information provided by the report. Some reports specify if the physician speaks multiple languages, has received any special awards or recognition, and which hospitals the doctors is affiliated with, if any.This type of information is valuable when reading a doctor review in determining if a doctor is right for you.