| Doctor-Ratings Methodologies | | | | such as: |
| Each establishment uses its own methodology | | | | * Disciplinary actions |
| with regard to offering doctor ratings. Now more | | | | * Malpractice judgments |
| than ever, companies design their own back-end | | | | * Internship, residency, and fellowship training |
| proprietary software applications to better serve | | | | * Membership affiliations |
| their customers. From search-engine technologies | | | | * Board certifications |
| to doctor-ratings technologies, the message is | | | | * Publications |
| clear: It has only begun. | | | | * Special expertise |
| Where Can I Find Doctor Ratings? | | | | * Additional training |
| Some companies allow you to search their free | | | | * Recognition awards |
| doctor-ratings databases. These databases | | | | These factors are important to consider in |
| generally offer limited ratings, however, and | | | | determining a doctor’s overall rating analysis. |
| usually are compiled from patients’ ratings. | | | | New Century Doctor-Ratings |
| The good news about these services is that the | | | | As the new century unfolds and companies |
| information is mostly free; on the other hand, you | | | | continue to expand their execution services, |
| get what you pay for. | | | | advanced applications will continue to be designed. |
| Doctor-Rating Process | | | | Although methodologies do vary, mimicking the |
| Here’s what some companies are doing: They | | | | way credit bureaus use their ratings system for |
| design and input data into a database. Then they | | | | credit scores, and applying some of those |
| design, code, optimize, and publish templates, so | | | | methodologies to a doctor-ratings application might |
| that when John Doe searches for a doctor on | | | | be just what the doctor ordered. |
| any search engine, the template webpage for | | | | Free Doctor Ratings |
| each doctor will rank high on search engines. How | | | | Although it’s beneficial to browse the free |
| is this accomplished? First, the company must get | | | | doctor-ratings sites to gather information, it’s |
| the search engine “spider” to crawl its | | | | always best to collect relevant information from |
| templates and index the database of doctors’ | | | | credible establishments that specialize strictly in |
| names, so that when the particular doctor’s | | | | providing doctor-background reports. |
| name is searched, the template page will be | | | | Ultimately, you may find that taking this extra |
| available, and the patient/consumer can rate the | | | | step is worth the money charged for the service. |
| doctor. Then, the information is channeled and | | | | Accuracy of Doctor Ratings |
| compiled to that specific doctor’s profile. The | | | | While some doctors may disagree with such |
| problem with these systems is that they can be | | | | ratings, one thing is certain: There is no universal |
| easily manipulated; therefore, the information | | | | agreement or magical solution that can guarantee |
| tends to be inaccurate or outdated. | | | | that consumers will receive 100 percent accurate |
| Quality Doctor-Ratings Process | | | | information. Just remember: An informed patient |
| Systems are designed to find and analyze a | | | | makes better healthcare decisions. |
| doctor’s rating through a series of categories, | | | | |