Filed In:
Physician Credentials - From Certifications to Malpractice
Each type of medical specialty requires doctors to meet criteria in order to be licensed. Then, beyond licensing, many doctors choose to be board certified in their specialty area. Are all doctors board certified? No. Does that matter? It might. And what about the ones that make mistakes? Learn about licensing, board certifications, malpractice and why or why not, those are important.
How to Research a Doctor's Credentials
There are two aspects to choosing the right doctor. One aspect is to find one you can partner with, one who fits your communication style. But a good communicator doesn't always have a successful track record. Learn how to research a doctor's credentials to be sure he or she has the competency to help you.
A Doctor's Medical Training and Experience
We hear the terms "intern," "resident" and "attending" when it comes to describing a physician. But did you know that not all of them are licensed to practice medicine, even though they may be practicing on us? Learn what these different medical training designations mean, and what experience comes along with such medical training.
What is Medical Board Certification?
Patients are told to find a doctor who is board certified. Learn why it is important for physicians to be board certified in medical specialties and what the competencies are to make them eligible to be board certified.
How to Verify a Doctor's Board Certification
Patients are told that a board certified doctor is a good choice for a practitioner. Taking the time to verify a board membership is worth the effort and will help ensure that the doctor meets at least a minimum competency for handling your healthcare.
Who Can Help You in the Hospital?
When you are in the hospital and need help, it's important to know who is who, and which of those people can help you. They all have different job responsibilities and only certain people can help you with certain forms of assistance. You'll need to track their identification to be sure they can provide what you need.
Should You Use "Ask a Doctor" Advice Websites?
Websites that offer doctors to provide one-on-one personal medical advice for free or for a fee are available to patients who have medical questions. Learn which of these sites can be useful, and which may be downright dangerous.
How to Find a Doctor's Medical Malpractice Track Record
While it's easy to find plenty of information about doctors online, not all if it is the information we really need. Checking on a doctor's medical malpractice track record may produce the background information we need, or it may just muddy the doctor research waters.
