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<
/a> 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.