The Intelligencer recently reported on a poll finding that many Americans do not know how to tell if their doctor will provide high-quality care. Unfortunately, the article does not provide many solutions to help its readers discover the information that they need when it comes to making an informed decision on selecting a health care provider. Obviously, choosing the right doctor is very important. Some studies estimate that between 210,000 and 440,000 patients die each year from preventable harm in our health care institutions. Unlike nursing homes, where safety data is relatively more accessible, it can be difficult to determine whether or not your doctor is the type of physician who is likely to provide high-quality care.
Having represented the victims of medical malpractice and having gained some experience in finding and retaining expert witnesses in such cases, I can tell you some of the things that I look for when trying to determine whether or not I am dealing with a physician who puts his or her patient's safety at the forefront. Perhaps asking some of these questions in advance of treatment could help patients make an informed decision about which doctor to choose. One of the things that I look for is a list of hospitals where the physician is credentialed to practice medicine. All hospitals have a legal and ethical obligation to make sure that the physicians who practice at that facility are not putting their patients in danger. This process, called the credentialing process, has its own flaws, but it can be a useful starting point. It may be worth asking whether your doctor has privileges at any healthcare facilities. If a reputable hospital has granted privileges to your doctor in his or her area of expertise, you may at least assume that the hospital has satisfied itself concerning the basic competency of the physician.
Board certification is another important factor. For most medical specialists, there is a specific test that the physician can take in order to demonstrate competency. If the physician passes the exam, they are able to hold themselves out as being Board Certified. It may be worth asking your physician if he or she is board certified and to discover which organization provided the certification. Most medical specialties have a web site that will allow members of the public to verify certification status.
Both the West Virginia and Ohio Boards of Medicine also have web sites that will allow a member of the public to obtain licensure data on a physician. In some circumstances, there may even be information on those sites regarding whether or not the physician in question has ever been subject to any sort of formal discipline.
Of course, I would encourage people to trust their own instincts and ask questions. Certainly, it is every doctor's obligation to provide safe and competent medical care and it is the obligation of every hospital to make sure that only competent and qualified physicians practice at the facility. However, as in many walks of life, information is power and none of us should hesitate to ask tough questions of a prospective doctor. Doctors who are confident in their abilities will understand and welcome a few important questions.
;)
