Hellobee Boards

I get curious and look. I do like to see when they are additionally trained beyond the scope of their med school education.

I always look. And then run it by my mom.

Yes! More so I look into specialists training rather than my PC (I chose her based on recommendations from many in the medical field), but I want to know where a specialist went to school, where they did their residency & what they're board certified in. I was referred by a hospital once to see a dr for a follow up, he gave me meds that caused me to have seizures, refused to acknowledge that the meds were the cause (I'd never had one before) & refused to try other treatments. When I looked into him, he'd gone to med school abroad (he went to school in his home country) & wasn't board certified in the specialty he was practicing here. I don't know what standard practices are where he was trained, but I can tell you everyone I've talked to about the situation here has been taken back by his approach & they've all said they would never use the treatment he did. I've become much more diligent in checking since then.

That said, I live in an area where I have access to some if the best health care in the world & I have the luxury of being picky, if I lived in an area with more limited access, I'm sure I would have no chose but to relax my standards, you work with what you've got.

I am more interested in bed side manner and reviews. So for my PCP I asked around, did a lot of research and found a practice that had great reviews and people I actually knew also recommend that practice.

For specialists, I absolutely look at all factors - how long they've been in practice, where they did their residency, education, other doctors in their practice (if not a solo practice) and reviews. But the number one thing I look for is board certification. Are they certified by the board in whatever it is they are certified in, is there a lapse in their certification? You can be a doctor in a field, but board certified requires recognition of his/her expertise in that field and is qualified based on their standards.

@Happygal: you would be surprised at the number of people who do. I usually direct the patients to the physicians bios on our clinic website and ask them to choose, because I won't do that.

No, my OB and my Primary care were both referrals, so I didn't even think to check educational background! And I am happy with both.

Although last year my dad (who is a doctor) asked where my OB went, so I looked it up on her profile. He didn't look impressed, haha.

I look at their education and residency but don't actually base my decision on that unless it's a specialty where one hospital is known for that department. Like if it was neurology, I'd prefer a doctor who was trained at a particular hospital in the area.

Nope. If I see it on their wall, I'll look. Otherwise, I don't really care.