How to Check Out a Physician

Finding the right doctor can be a lot more difficult than finding the right pair of shoes. It can be time-consuming, and it can range from asking other people for personal recommendations to doing a full-scale search on the Internet. The same principles apply if you just want to check out your current physician to make sure he's still right for you.

Instructions

Personal Recommendations

• 1

  A personal recommendation is always beneficial. So ask your friends and business associates. They'll be able to give you the most comprehensive and up-to-date information about a doctor. Find out what they like and don't like about her. Ask whether their doctor treats them with respect.

• 2

  Next, check with your county's local medical society. It probably has a referral service; ask why it is referring one physician over another. Also ask it whether there are any complaints against the doctor it's recommending.

• 3

  You'll want to check, too, with the state agency which licenses physicians. In some states, a department of licensing handles professional licenses. In others, it is done through the state department of health. In Washington State, the Health Professions division of the health department credentials physicians. The website gives health-care providers credential numbers and indicates whether the state has taken any action against a provider. If the answer is yes, the website provides details that action.

• 4

  The state medical society is a good place to check out a physician. It should also offer a referral service; again, you should ask about any complaints filed against a physician.

  The American Medical Association is also an excellent place to check out a physician. Its website has a "doctor finder" feature that includes details, such as medical schooling, about a physician and whether his patients have rated him.

  Associations affiliated with specialties, such as pediatrics or orthopedics, are good places to check out a physician who specializes in those areas.

• 5

  Several websites also sponsor doctor-rating services. Two good ones are DrScore.com and RateMDs.com. These ratings are patient-driven, and they cover such areas as general care, timeliness and exams. Not all doctors in their systems have been rated, and some might have only one patient rating.