She needed an orthopod for follow to a very old hip-replacement. She lives in a small market, and we researched the orthopod recommended by her PCP.

It raised more questions than it answered. Why would a Yale-educated physician move from a big market to a small one – especially with a successful history practice. We didn’t find any bad history, so went with him anyway. Turns out there was a good reason for the move – and totally benign – but the background search did nothing to help.

Besides, most of the data is publicly available anyway. The best research tools out there are free, and are usually mash-ups of governmental data (see, for example, the hospital ranking tool at netdoc.com). Even disciplinary actions against physicians are publicly available through state licensing websites. So the $7+ you spend on Healthgrades turns out to be basically free data you could get anyway.

I recently came across this problem. My mother, 59 y/o healthy female, was finally convinced to get her screening colonoscopy. Her PCP gave her a list of 5 gastroenterologists. My mom wanted me, as her doctor to choose the best & safest. I thought this would be an easy thing to do.

First, I googled each MD. Nothing except the pay for listing on Healthgrades. Then I checked the recent ratethedoc sites. Nothing. Then I went to our state medical licensing board to see if any complaints passed. Here the data is hidden in hundreds of PDF files sorted by month and year with no search function and no master lists.
Then being a local doctor myself (but I am new to the area) I choose to call and speak to the offices and endoscopy suites practice managers themselves. I asked specifically, as per AGS guidelines, what is the doctor’s average withdrawal time, and perforation complication rate. The PM’s had no response and in fact were bothered by me asking, even defensive sounding. Instead, I get what passes as quality measurement now… “the doctor is excellent and never misses anything.” I insisted on leaving a message for the MDs themselves. Despite leaving my contact info, none have called back to date.

I can imagine what must be going through their respective minds when they hear of my questions.
1) If he wants to know this, he probably is a pain in the ass patient and a litigious risk
2) I’m making enough money off referral, why do I need this type of patient.

So, at the end of the day and hours of futile research, my mom and I choose a doctor who has a nice sounding last name, & is in his 40s (theory – old enough to have experience, but not too old such that he has outdated habits).

Nothing like measuring quality of care. Consumers, beware.

If there any gastros (especially those that run endoscopy centers) who have begun to collect and release the indicators, love to hear why your colleagues do not.

ConciergeDoc
http://www.myconciergedoc.com