In decades past, the most efficient way of finding a quality physician was simply asking those around you.
Whether from the mouth of your mother, friends or co-workers, it was only a matter of asking before being handed a long-winded explanation outlining the specifics as to why their chosen physician was the end all, be all of modern medicine.
However, these days the ability to acquire quality doctor reviews has blossomed into a virtual mecca of online user-submission based sites and resources, allowing prospective patients the ability to obtain information on physicians with little more than a click of the mouse.
But while the ease of information allocation can certainly prove itself to be highly beneficial, the vast amount of reviews available to any one patient can ultimately have the result of confusion and frustration.
In this article, we will offer a few tips to help you weed through the mess and evaluate the content in a way that best suits your needs.
Step 1 - As you've likely noticed, there are quite a few sites to pick through.
Take a peak at each in order to gain perspective regarding their individual takes on the review and rating process.
Some sites will allow users to post anonymously, while others will require account activations, which include an email and some basic personal information.
In general, the latter will likely offer more quality results, as patients who are required to provide personal information may be more invested in offering detailed information that will reflect better on their profile.
Step 2 - When reading doctor reviews, try to be objective.
We've all had bad days or instances in which our personal lives have affected our work habits.
Additionally, it's good to keep in mind that what may have proved a poor or positive experience for one patient may not necessarily be the case for another.
When viewing specific physicians, it's important to take hold of the big picture, allowing reviews from bitter patients with misunderstandings to fall to the wayside when positive reviews are in the visible majority.
Step 3 - Avoid sites that lack content.
Web pages that aren't frequented or updated often may offer outdated content or provide information that is skewed one way or another in an unfair manner.
Choosing a site with a mass of recently submitted content ensures that you will obtain a broader picture of the actual story.
Step 4 - Try not to pay attention to one-liners that lack details.
Reviews that do not offer explanations for poor or positive reviews only serve to clutter the system, making it harder to obtain perspective on physicians you are interested in.
Step 5 - If you're looking for a little extra information before making a decision on a physician, you can always get in touch with your state medical board to find out specifics regarding education, experience and complaint history.
The information provided to you will be based more in fact, and much less in personal experience, however, it may work to provide you with the specifics you need to make the informed decision you're after.