In today’s world of managed care, patients
are often forced to choose physicians almost blindly from a list
supplied by their insurance companies. How can you be sure you’re
choosing a doctor with a clean malpractice record and one who’s
compatible with your needs? Through research and direct questioning
of your potential physician, you can find a doctor who is a good
fit for you and your family.
To research the malpractice record of your doctor,
you have several options – some are free, others are fee-driven:
The Texas State Board of Medical Examiners site
list doctors’ credentials, in addition to their disciplinary
records.This site is free, but unfortunately it’s not incredibly
user friendly and the information on the site is minimal, at best.
Questionabledoctors.org offers
a list of disciplined doctors from 27 states (including Texas)
for free. For a small fee, you can get a detailed discipline report
about individual doctors on the list.
Healthgrades.com offers
physician report cards on more than 600,000 doctors in 78 specialties.
The information is compiled from state medical boards, physicians,
health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and publicly available directories or telephone surveys. You can
get basic information for free and more detailed information on
specific physicians for a small fee.
Searchpointe.com combines
data from 50 states to provide a single, nationwide source for
physicians’ credentials. Free of charge, you can find out
a doctor's specialty, education and address and license status.
For a nominal fee, you’ll receive information on license
details and sanctions.
Increasingly more and more state medical boards
are posting information online, so check with your state’s
medical board to see if you can access your doctor’s malpractice
record on the web.
Of course, you can always ask your doctor directly
about their background: What does their training and background
include? Have they been subject to any disciplinary action?
Once you’ve determined that your doctor’s
background meets your standards, there are several more personal
factors that you might want to consider before making your final
decision:
Which hospitals have granted the doctor privileges?
Are those facilities convenient for you?
What are the doctor’s office hours?
Does the doctor or someone in the office speak
the language that you are most comfortable speaking?
Who covers for the doctor when he/she is not
available?
How long does it usually take to get an appointment?
How are urgent care and emergency situations
handled?
Victims of medical
malpractice can sue for the injuries incurred and all direct
consequences of those injuries including mental and physical
pain and suffering, lost wages, medical expenses, or other economic
damages. If you or a loved one has suffered due to Medical Malpractice
or Medical Mistakes,
please Contact The Rasansky Law
Firm to learn about your rights and
legal options regarding your Medical Malpractice Claim.
