Do you know or care about your dr.'s credentials?

[luvmarypoppins]

I just looked up the surgeon I am going to be seeing next wed. I took the appt. because she 1. can do the procedure I need done and 2. takes my insurance, you can see my other thread about that one. All I can say is wow, I am impressed, She did her residency at Columbia in NY and her fellowship was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester in cardiothoracic Surgery. Do you know or even care about your drs. credentials?

 

[momrek06]

I just looked up the surgeon I am going to be seeing next wed. I took the appt. because she 1. can do the procedure I need done and 2. takes my insurance, you can see my other thread about that one. All I can say is wow, I am impressed, She did her residency at Columbia in NY and her fellowship was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester in cardiothoracic Surgery. Do you know or even care about your drs. credentials?

ABSOLUTELY!!

I just moved and I am currently doing my research online in my area for a GYN. I want the MD to have outstanding credentials and of course needs to take my insurance....this is just a pain to have to do....but very important.

Sounds like you have a real solid winner there, OP!!!

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Gosh, I'm embarrassed to say I don't even know how to do that. Where would I look?

 

[delilah]

An easy place to look is on the AMA website. If the doctor is a member, there is fairly complete and accurate information (at least mine is). Another is to look on the specialty board web site, which is harder to do, because you usually need to have some personal information about the doctor that you are unlikely to have to get complete information (like SSN, birthdate, things like that). Some specialty boards are harder to access than others. Be careful about some of the websites that pop-up on the internet if you input just the doctor's name. I don't know where these sites get their information, and most of it is inaccurate. For example, mine gives an office address at which I have never practiced as my work address. It is one of the three offices affiliated with my practice, but, I don't work there. Interestingly, I am not listed at the address at which I have practiced for the past 11 years.

 

[daisax]

You can google your state board of medicine -- at least in Massachusetts they have a user friendly database -- you can search by town/specialty/name. And it lists not only their educational background and board certifications, but whether there are disciplinary proceedings against the person, malpractice suits, etc. (Note: in some specialties malpractice suits are extremely common, and that doesn't mean much - no way to tell if the case has any merits. Except, I suppose, if the doc has several dozen of them!)

 

[Cool-Beans]

I care enough about my health and the health of those I love (there just isn't anything more important) to never settle for second-best.

 

[JessicaR]

I know every available detail there is to know about my doctors. I have had major surgery and nothing but the most qualified and experienced doctor for my circumstance would have made me comfortable.

I particularly like http://www.castleconnolly.com/

Depending on what state you live in there is a wealth of research that can be done and should be done especially when surgery is involved. Researching Professional Misconduct and Physician Discipline can be helpful also.


http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/opmc/main.htm
http://www.abms.org/Who_We_Help/consumers/verifying.aspx
Healthgrades.com
http://www.bestdoctors.com/bd/experts.php

There are also ways to research Doctors and Surgeons based on their specialties.

 

[Geoff_M]

Reminds me of one of my favorite jokes:
Q: "What do you call the person that graduated last in their class at medical school?"
A: "Doctor!"

 

[Quiksilvr]

I'm in a credential-obsessed profession, so I always check everybody I do business with, whether it's a doctor or an insurance agent.

At my firm your credentials are what get you in the door because clients don't want to pay ginormous rates for someone who got their JD at Bumblescrum State Law School. The more academic paper you have hanging on your wall the better.

 

[tonilea]

Checking credentials is a good idea. Googling them might not be.... my neuro had a couple of malpractice suits, but I couldn't find the resolutions - dropped, settled, cleared... nothing. So it made me worry a bit.

However, my surgery was very successful and I am forever greatful.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes. I changed my dd's surgeon with her gallbladder. Well I had her cardiologist make a personal call to the head surgeon to get her in.

They had her scheduled with a newbie. My dd has a repaired heart defect.

When I made the appt for the surgeon originally I say credentials are important. Of course they don't care, you are just a number.

Good thread btw... Thanks for the links.

 

[Disney Doll]

Yes, I do know and do care, to an extent.

That being said, credentials are not the only thing I base my opinion on. I know many folks who are very well-credentialled in their field and I would not consider them effective.

 

[daughtersrus]

I do but they don't always give you the whole picture.

For example, the doctor that treated my DD at a well know childrens hospital attended George Washington University for her medical degree and Children's Hospital National Medical Center and Johns Hopkins for post degrees. She is also on the research staff at Harvard as well as being on the board of many organizations related to her specialty.

Even with all of this, she made a critical mistake that cost my daughter the vision in one eye and almost killed her. The mistake was not borderline but one that violated every standard procedure.

 

[Piecey]

The doctor who did my breast reduction when I was 18....I checked on. I was nervous, nervous, nervous.

He got his medical degree from University of Kentucky, did his surgical residency at Charlotte Memorial and his plastic surgery residency at Vanderbilt.

Good enough for me!

 

[ProudMomTo3Boys]

My sister works for a doctor. Any time I need to see a specialist I ask her. She knows who is good and who is bad. I don't just mean credentials either. She knows how they treat people and to me that is also important.

 

[kirbsam]

lets face it folks. we can say how we want the best, but it all comes down to who is in your network. every physician graduated from a good medical school, and went to a good residency program.

 

[Stacerita]

Yes I know what my physician's credentials are. I also know the credentials of the other physician in the office who owns the practice. Both very impressive. Not only their education and past work experiences, but also their community involvement.

And I do not go with "who is in my network". Honestly, I don't have a "network". My insurance lets me pick who I want to see. I know I am lucky for that.

Credentials are not the only thing that I consider when choosing my physicians, I also like to be referred by family and friends, or by people in my profession. I work in health care and most that I know will tell me the truth on what they think of others in certain fields.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My sister works for a doctor. Any time I need to see a specialist I ask her. She knows who is good and who is bad. I don't just mean credentials either. She knows how they treat people and to me that is also important.

The opposite is true also. My sis had her ankle reconstruction and my mom had her knee done in the same group.

This group in known for having a crappy bedside manner. However they do great work and are tenacious about their patients.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Absolutely!!!!!! 100%
Where & when they went to school, where they were a resident & fellows.
Also what hospitals they have admitting rights.

 

[manning]

I just looked up the surgeon I am going to be seeing next wed. I took the appt. because she 1. can do the procedure I need done and 2. takes my insurance, you can see my other thread about that one. All I can say is wow, I am impressed, She did her residency at Columbia in NY and her fellowship was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester in cardiothoracic Surgery. Do you know or even care about your drs. credentials?

I had a doctor who did her fellowship at Mayo and I was impressed.