researching a doctor?

[amanda]

How can I research my doctor? I am looking into a mitrofanoff, and have been directed towards a particular urologist. Ofcourse the one who directed to him is going to have good things to say about him. But, from what I've heard the quality of the surgery can make or break you. I want to make sure I am making the right choice of doctors. How do you assure yourself of this?

When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

[SCI-Nurse]

Several things you can do:

Check with the state physician's licensing board to see if there are any complaints against the physician and if they report malpractice suits (unfortunately they will only report those lost, not those filed or settled usually).

Check to see where he has hospital privleges. His office should have this list and give it to you. Check with the quality assurance office at that hospital and ask if there are any outstanding complaints against the physician or any history of disciplinary actions. The quality of the hospitals where he/she has privleges is also important.

Ask for a list of his professional organizations, or better yet, get a copy off his resume from his office. Check to see if he is a member of AUA and other appropriate professional organizations, esp. with Diplomate or Fellow status. Check to see if he had his training at reputable hospitals and universities. See if he has listed additional course work since his residency specifically in the area of urologic surgery and Mitrofanoffs.

Ask your current physicians if they know him or know others who might know him and if they would recommend their own family members to this physician.

Last but not least, ask him to put you in touch with at least 5 other patients who have had this surgery done by him (he will have to give them your contact information, he would not be allowed to give you theirs), and speak to each of them about their experience and satisfaction with his work.

There are some paid on-line services available for checking on physician complaints, etc. too if you want to pay a service for this.

(KLD)

[amanda]

Thanks for the help! I have done a few of these already. My current urologist is the one who directed me towards him.(he doesn't do the procedure anymore) But, the new doctor is the partner of my current one, or in the same office- not sure if that is what you call partners. So, I trust his recomendation. I just want to be 110% sure. I will ask to be contacted with prior paitents with the mitrofanoff.

When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.
Franklin D. Roosevelt