Prescription For Parents: Vet Your Doctor

Coming from me, that is a statement to remember.  I always question my physician, I check credible sources in regard to credentials, and I ask other people about physicians I am going to see.

These recommendations not only apply to pediatrics but all medical specialties.

As Bob Dylan sang, "The Times They are a Changing" I update that to "The Times Have Changed"

Here is my checklist

1.  Disregard anything the medical board says about your doctor, except suspension, or cancellations. Make sure your physician has a valid medical license.  Although State Medical Boards are the ultimate judge of who can be licensed they are miles away from your doctor.  They only assess complaints from patients, or requests from authorized institutions, medical groups, hospitals, or specialty boards. Each time a physician applies for hospital staff membership their records from medical boards in the state in which the hospital exists to all other previous state licensures, medical specialty boards, personal and professional references, criminal records

2. Disregard hospital recommendations. Once the doctor is granted staff privileges, suspending or canceling privileges without a due diligence procedure is very difficult. Hospitals will refer physicians on their own staff. They will be the last to know about their physicians unless there has been a major medical or surgical incident.  Incidents are kept confidential and away from the media to avoid libel suits.

3. If possible vet your future doctors well before you need them. 

         I recommend these specialties

.        Primary Care (these can be Internal Medicine or Board Certified Family Practitioners

         Surgeons (including OB/GYN as they may be considered primary care physicians}, Pediatricians

         Ophthalmologists. Cardiologists

        You can also check your provider lists from your HMO, or Private Insurers. Medicare or Med-Cal             listings

        Check with your friends and coworkers. But be wary since their opinion may be clouded by a long wait or poor staff.  Most doctors don't tolerate poor staff

        An academic appointment is nice but not necessarily good. Some academics are good at teaching or research and may be outstanding technically, but fail at emotional intelligence. However, if you have an uncommon, potentially fatal,  or rare disease they are your best option for diagnosis and treatment. 

        There are also some world-class referral institutions such as Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic,                     Ochsner  Clinic, and others in your region.

        Centers of Excellence are very questionable.  Almost every community hospital markets a "Center of Excellence". It is a marketing ploy by staff physicians to attract and compete with real  regional centers.

4. A combination of some or all of the above procedures will give you some advantage in selecting a competent and caring physician

        

        

Prescription For Parents: Vet Your Child’s Doctor