Intro To Choosing A Doctor

A few questions to ask before picking a doc.

Are they licensed in your state? The state or local professional licensing board can tell you.
Do they have board certification in the necessary speciality? The AMA or American Board of Medical Specialties can tell you.
How often have they performed the procedure? What’s their success rate?
Is their record clean? Check if there are complaints or disciplinary action taken. This info can be found for free at Docboard.org and Healthcarechoices.org, or for pay at QuestionableDoctors.org, Docinfo.org, and checkbook.org.

Healthfinder.gov can give you more advice on identifying a provider. You can search by ailment and then click through the resources to find an official page of professional specialists. For instance, searching for “bed-wetting” leads us to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Academy of Pediatrics, sites we’ll be visiting before nightfall.

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.