How does one find a good MD.?

[TheAxeman]

The thread title says it all. How does one go about finding a qualified, excellent Dr.? Are there any websites that show actual experience/medical knowledge of these guys? I find a bunch of pay sites, think of them as Carfax for the medical industry, but not sure if they are worth trying. I've gotten "recommendations" and "referrals" but find there are often conflicting reports of how bad or good the Dr. is depending on who you talk to. I've talked to nurses thinking they would know better than anyone but get the impression that many of them form their opinion around how handsome or personable the doc is. I'm getting a little frustrated in trying to figure out who I should let cut into me. My track record of even finding a good mechanic is pretty piss poor so I would rather not take chances with a surgeon.

 

[user 6393]

Ask your friends and neighbors, then there should be a state regulatory site which would list any "complaints", much like hoe the Bar Association lists lawyers and their "issues".

 

[NYPete]

If you're looking for a specialty doctor and IF you have a doctor that you trust, ask him who he would go to or who he would send members of his family to for a particular problem. If you want to check qualifications you can go to the American Medical Association website. A good bet is to pick one that is board certified.

NYPete

 

[Fred W]

Chris,

The absolute best way is to ask someone who is "on the inside", ie a medical field employee, or especially a referring doctor, in the particular area of the specific required expertise. The term "surgeon" is very generic in today's medicine. In this day and age of specialists even the surgeons specialize in one area or another.

This post, along with another hint in the ignition recall thread about not being able to ride for a while is most ominous information. I really hope this is nothing serious, and just the eye surgery that you were talking about previously.

 

[Bustanut joker]

+1 to what Fred said.. Took me almost 15 years to find another "good" MD when mine passed. I figure my first heart attack could have been prevented had he been alive..

Here's hoping things go well for ya man.

:jester:

 

[Patriot]

+1 on the ask friends and family you trust...I guess I'm lucky to have a sister in law with decades of service to a local hospital whom most of us choose to frequent and is covered by insurance.

My mother was VERY particular who she went to and back then, it included a very personal Marcus Welby kind of relationship. Unfortunately for me at this point in time, those folks are retired or gone from this earth.

Best to you Chris on your medical journey...

Mike

 

[zzzzip]

If it makes any difference, around here there is no such thing as a "good M.D."

A short ways up the road is the home of Osteopathic medicine..... nothing but Osteopathic Doctors around here. They claim they spend more time in anatomy class than M.D.s

Kind of like saying Harley riders are better mechanics because they spend more time working on bikes than.... well, you get the point. I'm not much more help than a Harley mechanic on this question.

B)

 

[madjackdog]

+1 to what Fred said.. Took me almost 15 years to find another "good" MD when mine passed. I figure my first heart attack could have been prevented had he been alive..
Here's hoping things go well for ya man.

:jester:

I thought you gave heart attacks, not got them.

 

[TheAxeman]

Chris,This post, along with another hint in the ignition recall thread about not being able to ride for a while is most ominous information. I really hope this is nothing serious, and just the eye surgery that you were talking about previously.

I didn't mean to sound dramatic, it is the cataract thing..... [SIZE=14pt]In both eyes![/SIZE]. In less than 3 months I went from being diagnosed with them to having great difficulty seeing out of my right eye with my left eye not far behind. I just have never been able to use the words "routine" and "surgery" in the same sentence. I was hoping to get this thing knocked out before the White and Green ride but no chance of that happening and now EOM seems to be in jeopardy. Its been a total bust for riding this summer. Just when I thought I had a doctor with stellar references locked in, a friend of mine began describing the major complications he had after his surgery at the hands of this guy. Thanks for the information guys. I'm going to see what I can dig up at the AMA site.

 

[gypsy]

Chris there is a site where people rate doctors. I have no idea how reliable it is but have a look. Can't hurt.

https://www.ratemds.com/

gypsy

 

[Silver Penguin]

You might ask your primary care physician if they would have the suggested surgeon operate on their family member. The PCP can't really give you an opinion, but an objective question like that, with a yes-no answer might get a better answer.

You might also ask the nurses at the hospital. Sure, some will have opinions based on factors that don't interest you, but others will be able to tell you the real stuff.

When I had my spinal fusion, I was happy to have it done at the hospital where I work, so that I would know which surgeon was doing it. (He did a great job, BTW).

There might be a way that you can search the state medical board's website for any reports against the doctor. The hospital's website might have some useful links to get you started.

Hope all goes well for you.

 

[dcarver]

I hear you barking Big Dawg. Similar situation, lost my good *gal* and can't find a decent replacement..

 

[Bokerfork]

Hate to get political. Big no no. But if Government health care is passed, you can forget about finding a "good" doctor.

Jus sayin.

 

[Badcat]

Hate to get political. Big no no. But if Government health care is passed, you can forget about finding a "good" doctor.
Jus sayin.

+1

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Complications happen. Even the best doctors have some bad outcomes, and not always their own fault -- if you are looking for guarantees, forget it. All docs get sued, some more than others. some sooner than others. People don't like it when **** happens. It often takes years to figure out who the bad ones are. In the end there is a leap of faith in the person; studies show confidence in a doc improves outcome.

I do suggest you find somebody who has been doing the procedure for years. Go with recommendations from former patients and providers (if you know any). lastly, if it is any comfort, cataract surgery is generally considered simple and done all the time. You will have to wait until they are ripe enough anyway, so I suspect you have some time to research. Consider doing one eye at a time, so you can see with the other one during recovery. Be religious about the recovery (follow-up visits, antibiotics, etc.) and the chances of a good outcome go way up. Use common sense.

All of that is with the understanding I am not in that field, and others here may know more; I defer to them.

 

[Fred W]

Chris,This post, along with another hint in the ignition recall thread about not being able to ride for a while is most ominous information. I really hope this is nothing serious, and just the eye surgery that you were talking about previously.

I didn't mean to sound dramatic, it is the cataract thing..... [SIZE=14pt]In both eyes![/SIZE]. In less than 3 months I went from being diagnosed with them to having great difficulty seeing out of my right eye with my left eye not far behind. I just have never been able to use the words "routine" and "surgery" in the same sentence. I was hoping to get this thing knocked out before the White and Green ride but no chance of that happening and now EOM seems to be in jeopardy. Its been a total bust for riding this summer. Just when I thought I had a doctor with stellar references locked in, a friend of mine began describing the major complications he had after his surgery at the hands of this guy. Thanks for the information guys. I'm going to see what I can dig up at the AMA site.

While not a major surgery, I can understand your apprehension. Certainly worth checking to see if the guy really is a quack or if your friend had a unique experience. Whoever you get to do them, I would try to get them done in stages, ie one eye first. I'm sure the docs would rather do them together, but that is only for their convenience. They are your eyes so you get to call the shots.

 

[ionbeam]

Paging gr8eyes...

Hi Chris! This is the name of Helen's ophthalmologist that did the cataract surgery on both her eyes. There are different ways to remove cataracts, he helped pioneer one of the most successful ways to do the job. Helen walked in to the office at 9:00 and was on her way home in 3 hrs. She chose to have one eye at a time done so she could continue to function. She wore an eye patch until a follow-up exam the next day. When she had the second eye done she even chose to forgo any sedatives or relaxants because the first eye went so quick and easy. Dr Kellan travels world wide in the summers doing free eye surgery in poor and under developed countries so he may not be in the office right now. It is worth giving his office a call and see if they can refer you to a good ophthalmologist in your area.

Dr. Robert E. Kellan, MD

60 East Street Suite 1100

Methuen, Ma 01844

(978) 682-8661

On this web page, scroll down to Dr Kellan and read a bit of Medical Babble about the various ways cataracts can be removed. This may help you question potential ophthalmologists about their approach to the surgery. [The cataract (clouded lens) is broken up by various means, usually a small ultrasonic probe, then the cataract is vacuumed out. An incision that is so small that it needs no stitches is made at the edge of the iris. The replacement lens comes rolled up, is inserted through the incision then unrolled and positioned. The patient then has the eye examined and goes home with good vision.]

I can send you Helen's email address if you want to 'talk' with her about the procedure.

 

[Silver Penguin]

Hate to get political. Big no no. But if Government health care is passed, you can forget about finding a "good" doctor.

If we get Universal Health Care, the good doctors will still be out there, as well as the bad ones. Unfortunately, you're going to wait a lot longer to see any doctor. The reasons are political and thus not suitable for discussion here, but I've lived in a county with UHC and there is a lot of waiting in line.

 

[hotbike dave]

The thread title says it all. How does one go about finding a qualified, excellent Dr.? Are there any websites that show actual experience/medical knowledge of these guys? I find a bunch of pay sites, think of them as Carfax for the medical industry, but not sure if they are worth trying. I've gotten "recommendations" and "referrals" but find there are often conflicting reports of how bad or good the Dr. is depending on who you talk to. I've talked to nurses thinking they would know better than anyone but get the impression that many of them form their opinion around how handsome or personable the doc is. I'm getting a little frustrated in trying to figure out who I should let cut into me. My track record of even finding a good mechanic is pretty piss poor so I would rather not take chances with a surgeon.

my best friend was a doc ------ he said you had better be very careful when selecting / probably the best way is interview first / most only go to med school to find out how to properly fill out insurance forms, make no mistake that care of patient is of top concern----- some very good ;mostly not . your odds of random picking a good one are slim to none. After hearing this from him i was very scared( as well i should be!)/ just like a service tech only a few really care ! good luck and be careful!