Yes, it is. I have alot to say in my heart, as I feel for these patients very much. I am also torn because I know patients who have been helped, and they too, are in my heart and on my mind. Another thing to think about.. checking the state medical board or county clerk prior to surgery. In most states, the information is not on-line. This is a consumer friendly site in NY: How to Choose the Right Physician
How to Tell Us if You Don't Choosing the right doctor is a very important decision. Yet, many people take more time to compare the quality and price of their next car than they do to select a physician. Today, many people have primary care physicians who serve most of their needs and can refer them to specialists when necessary. Primary care physicians generally include internists, family practitioners, pediatricians and, in some instances, obstetricians and gynecologists. How do you select a primary care physician, and how do you know if the specialists he or she suggests are the right doctors for you? Here are some things to consider when selecting a physician: - Ask friends and relatives for recommendations. If you are moving and changing physicians, ask your current physician if he or she can refer you to someone in your new community.
- Check with area hospitals. Many of them offer referral services.
- Check with your county medical society. They will give you the names of several physicians.
- Ask your insurance company, health maintenance organization or managed care plan if they have a panel of physicians from which you should select.
Once you have the names of several physicians, you can do some additional checking to help you make a final decision. - Is the physician licensed? To find out if the physician is currently licensed and registered in New York State, call the State Education Department at 518- 474- 3817 or access the department�s Web site at www.nysed.gov. Education Department staff can also tell you where the physician attended medical school. (You may also access this information through the search feature of this Web site.)
- Is the physician board- certified? Many doctors become board certified in a specialty. This means that they complete specialty training and pass formal examinations. While no guarantee of excellence, board certification is one way the average consumer can be certain of a physician�s training. Many primary care physicians also are board-certified in specialty areas.
The Directory of Physicians in the United States, the Medical Directory of New York State and The Directory of Board- Certified Medical Specialists list qualifications of individual physicians. They include where the physician attended medical school and received residency training, board certification; hospital affiliations; type of practice; and other information. These books can be found in the reference sections of most libraries. You may also call the American Board of Medical Specialties to confirm if a physician is board- certified and to get the number of individual specialty boards. The Board can be reached at 1- 800- 776- 2378. - How does the office operate? Check a physician�s office hours and locations, payment requirements, emergency and after- hours coverage, and the availability of telephone consultations and house calls. Find out at what hospitals the physician has admitting privileges.
- What about the physician�s malpractice record? Information on a physician�s malpractice record must be obtained by checking with the County Clerk�s office. That information is not available from any state agency.
- Has the physician been disciplined? To learn if a physician has been disciplined, call OPMC at 1- 800- 663- 6114. Or, access the medical conduct Web site at www.health.state.ny.us and select the "Disciplined Doctors" button at the top of the homepage. Only final disciplinary actions are provided. Pending or dismissed complaints are not public information.
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