| How to find a doctor? | | | | official directory of specialists, published by Marquis |
| There's no magical route to finding the right doctor. If | | | | Who's Who. The ABMS directory is available at most |
| you have a primary care physician just call him or her | | | | public libraries, as well as hospital, university and |
| and make an appointment. If you don't have a primary | | | | medical libraries. |
| care physician, try the route suggested above. Or, if | | | | 6. Next, visit the Federation of State Medical Boards |
| you feel you need specialist care, you can save time | | | | (online) to see if any serious disciplinary action has |
| and money by going directly to a specialist with your | | | | been taken against the doctor you've chosen. |
| particular medical problem. In the old days most | | | | Where can I research my doctor? |
| patients would ask their primary care physician for a | | | | Once you have selected a doctor, you have several |
| referral. While this is still done, more and more patients | | | | options. Most patients like to run a backgroundcheck |
| are going directly to a specialist for their medical needs. | | | | on the doctor they have chosen. The best place to do |
| Tips on how to look for a doctor | | | | this research is the Federation of State Medical |
| 1. Find out the history of medical symptoms or | | | | Boards. |
| diseases that run in your family, or ones you or your | | | | What makes a good doctor? Based on my extensive |
| family members may currently have. | | | | research over the past five years, my recommended |
| 2. Once you have identified the problem, let's say a | | | | criteria for finding a good doctor are: |
| history of asthma, you may want to find a primary | | | | 1. The number of years since the doctor received his |
| care provider who is (double) Board Certified in | | | | her MD or DO. |
| "Pulmonary Disease" and "Internal Medicine." | | | | 2. Whether the doctor is Board Certified or double |
| 3. Depending on how far you are willing to travel, and | | | | Board Certified in his/her respective specialty field. |
| what type of doctor you are searching for, look for | | | | 3. In the case of a surgeon, a high volume of surgical |
| three hospitals near your home. Then go to Google | | | | procedures he/she has completed. |
| and type in their names. Most hospitals have websites | | | | 4. Doctors who have had one or no malpractice |
| which feature a physician directory. | | | | lawsuits, with no disciplinary action taken against them. |
| 4. If you are looking for a specialist, such as a plastic | | | | 5. Doctors who are affiliated to at least one medical |
| surgeon, or a dermatologist, for example, use | | | | society related to their specialty. |
| (example) your three favorite search engines and | | | | Bottom line |
| type: "Florida Dermatologist," or "Florida Miami | | | | We all know there are no guarantees when it comes |
| Dermatologist." You may want to switch the wording | | | | to receiving the highest quality health care. We all |
| around and try a few different methods. | | | | knowthere are shady doctors, and good doctors; and |
| 5. Make sure your doctor is Board Certified , and that | | | | then there are those who are renowned for their |
| his or her respective field of specialization is listed, by | | | | expertise, whorank amongst the highest in their field. It's |
| consulting the American Board of Medical Specialists | | | | up to you to do your homework. |