Verifying the Quality of Medical Professionals

While selecting or choosing a medical professional in USA, the following points should be kept in mind:

The doctor or a medical professional should possess the characteristics as enlisted below:

Ratings accorded for administration of quality health care.
Has undergone the requisite training and possesses the relevant background that meets an individual’s requirements.
A physician who discusses measures for preventing illness-for example, hazards of alcoholism or steps to be implemented for quitting smoking.
Is accorded privileges at a hospital of an individual’s choice
Must be empanelled under an individual’s health plan.
Encourages his/her patients to ask questions and does not shun them.
Possesses good knowledge and is up-to-date with the latest technological innovations in his/her field of specialty
Discusses and shares medical/healthcare information with his/her patients
Answers the queries as asked by the patients
Is Patient in nature
Possesses confidence
Listens to his/her patients.
Is able to explain things in a cohesive manner.
Treats his/her patients with due respect.

Once an individual gets the list of relevant doctors possessing the requisite skills in the concerned specialty, there are ample ways to cross-check and/or verify their professional skills, knowledge and the quality of healthcare services provided by them. It is always better to check to find out if a consumer or any research group has rated the doctors or medical professionals in the area in which the individual resides. On top of this, there are certain individuals who would still like to experiment to find out how reliable the ratings are.

Information regarding doctors in certain States across USA is available on the Internet from Administrators in Medicine. This is basically a group of State Board of Medical Directors. In addition, the American Board of Medical Specialties (800-776-2378) can divulge further information as to whether the doctor is board certified or not. The meaning of "Certified" implies that the doctor/medical professional has completed a mandatory training program in a specialty and has passed an exam (board) to assess his or her knowledge, skills and experience for providing quality patient care in that specialty. Primary care doctors also may be certified as specialists. While board certification is indeed a good measure regarding a doctor or physician’s knowledge, it is possible to receive quality healthcare services even from doctors or physicians who are not board certified. The American Medical Association (AMA) has detailed information regarding the training, specialties and board certification pertaining to the entire list of licensed doctors across United States of America. This information can be acquired even over phone (800-665-2882) or in Doctor Finder at AMA's website or via fax or email.