Let’s state the obvious, like all other professions and occupations there are good doctors and not so good doctors! The problem is how do you know which is which?
Here are some sources of information to help you answer the question:
1. Virginia Department of Health Professions. This web site is free and will provide you with background information on the doctor’s education and licensure, together with “self-reported” experiences with prior negligence lawsuits.
2. Federation of State Medical Boards. This web site is free and allows you to search every state’s licensing and disciplinary databases.
3. DocInfo. This web site costs $10 per search and allows you to search all U. S. jurisdictions at once for license and disciplinary status.
4. HealthGrades. This web site costs approximately $18 and allows you to search for not only licensing and disciplinary actions but also medical training and some limited medical malpractice details.
5. Consumers’ Checkbook. For $25 per year this web site allows you to find doctors recommended by other doctors in 50 metropolitan areas plus patient satisfaction ratings in 7 of those areas.