Slide 1: Paging Dr. Background Check
Slide 2: Intro
• While all men may have been created equal, all doctors certainly are not. Not all surgeons or physicians have the same training and experience, making it all the more important to do diligent research into a doctor’s history. A doctor is highly unlikely to come out and tell you that he or she has had a malpractice judgment issued against them, or that they have been disciplined in some way as a result of a severe medical error. You must conduct the research yourself when it comes to your physician or surgeon.
Slide 3: A Cost Effective Search
• Researching and obtaining information on a particular doctor does not need to be a backbreaking or wallet-busting task. There actually is plenty of free information out there for you to find. Find the information for the state medical board where you live and contact them. Almost all will provide some background information on doctors. This information might be limited however, so you may consider using another company that can provide full information regarding a certain doctor’s credentials. Make certain that if you do use an outside company that it is a reputable one. Also, if the doctor has a website or his/her place of employment has a website, there is a good chance that they have a profile page that will contain all of the “pride information”. This means that they will likely display credentials including all schools attended, degrees obtained, and special training they have received.
Slide 4: Tips for Researching a Doctor
• While it is true that the internet has abundant websites offering information on doctors’ credentials, you will certainly want and need more than just a license number and contact information. If your internet search is growing tiresome, consider the following tips for digging deeper using these resources: • • The American Medical Association (if a member) • The American Board of Medical Specialties- the ABMS comprises 24 different medical boards • The state medical board for the doctor in question • Find the medical society for your doctor’s field of specialty and contact them • Your local library may have information on local doctors
Slide 5: Digging Deeper
• Even once you have researched a doctor’s credentials, there still may be other things to consider. When experience and clean slates are equal, consider the following to help you narrow your search even more to find the best surgeon or physician for you. Look for a specialist that is board certified in his or her field of practice Look for affiliations with hospitals or other prestigious memberships Look for a doctor/surgeon that is fellowship-trained in their field Look for a doctor who also had teaching duties at hospitals or other institutions Look for a doctor/surgeon that has won awards or honors, and then verify them. These are a good sign! Look for a doctor/surgeon whose practice is highly focused on your medical condition and needs. Look for a doctor/surgeon that has been practicing for at least five years
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Slide 6: In the End
• As we discussed earlier, every doctor you come across will have a different combination of background, training, and experience. The more effort you put into your research, the better off you will be in the end. Use the tips here to get you started on your search for the health care that will be the most skilled, qualified, and trustworthy. Many people that do not put the time and effort into finding the right physician end up with medical complications that plague them the rest of their lives. These often result in legal action in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Slide 7: About the Author
• Michael Berger is an attorney with Andres&Berger, PC. The firm specializes as New Jersey medical malpractice attorneys, as well as trying other types of personal injury cases.
