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The Web offers access to a variety of authoritative health resources, such as the Physician's Desk Reference for prescription drugs, the consumer edition of the Merck Manual of Medical Information, and the National Library of Medicine's Medline for the latest medical research. Although there's no single comparable source of professional ratings for physicians, there are several trustworthy resources to help you evaluate a physician's reputation and past performance. It's critically important to know your sources when looking for physician referrals and other unbiased health care information. AIM
DocFinder is a resource created by the Association of State Medical Board Executive Directors that provides links to the medical licensing authorities of participating states. Medical board certification is a state-regulated process so requirements vary, as does ease of access to information. By searching on "physician board certification," we located an organization called the American Board of Medical Specialties. Their FAQ includes the question, "How do I find out if a physician has had malpractice suits or complaints?" They recommend visiting the Federation of State Medical Boards' DocInfo
database, an "accurate and trusted source for physician disciplinary information." Consider looking for resources at your state or local level as well, or from support groups and organizations for a specific disease or condition. For example, The California Patient's Guide is a resident's guide to health care rights, and covers referrals, informed consent, and second opinions, particularly in a managed-care environment. Commercial, fee-based services, such as BestDoctors.com, can help you search for a physician in a variety of specialties of medicine in the geographic area of you choice, providing background and biographical information to match you with the right medical professional.
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