How to Search a Doctor's History

You may be curious about a new physician’s history--his training, educational background, or disciplinary history--but may not be sure where to start the search. Although online search companies and physician ratings sites have popped up on the Internet promising background information on a doctor, the information they provide ranges in quality and thoroughness--and the companies often charge steep fees for what information they do have. Searching a doctor’s history involves four straightforward steps, each based on trusted professional and regulatory information sources.

Instructions

• 1

  Call your state board of medicine. State medical boards regulate the practice of medicine within state boundaries and maintain data files on all physicians licensed to practice medicine within that state. State boards of medicine data files--which are available to the public--not only provide information about a physician’s work history within the state, but also offer information about his education, training experiences, and any disciplinary actions. Although the Federation of State Medical Boards offers a fee-based service to provide background reports on their doctors, this information is freely available from each individual state medical board; however, this requires additional time for research.

• 2

  Identify professional and certification organizations related to his specialty. Almost all doctors belong to one or more membership organizations, ranging from local medical societies to national organizations representing their specialty--and these groups maintain biographical information about their members. Many groups provide information about education, training and work history to the public as part of physician search tools. For example, you can search for your doctor's information on the websites of cardiology professional organizations. Physicians who receive board certification from one or more medical boards also provide background information to the certifying organizations. You can learn whether your doctor has current board certification in one or more specialty areas by searching through the American Board of Medical Specialties web site. The ABMS search tool provides education and training information about your doctor as well as the status of his board certifications.

• 3

  Contact hospitals, both the ones where your doctor currently has admitting privileges, but track down the hospitals where he has worked in the past. Although the hospitals where he has worked will be part of his data file with the state licensing board, you can also call the hospitals directly to verify that your doctor has practiced medicine there.

• 4

  Ask your insurance company, because health insurers maintain networks of physicians in and around your community to provide health care services to you. Because they form these networks, health plans maintain directories of physicians that contain information about doctors, ranging from basic background information--such as education or board certifications--to awards garnered for quality care.