REPORT #1744
"Usually I’m able to put the patient at ease pretty quickly but the video certainly at least gives them some idea of what to expect in advance."
Carol Gilmore, M.D.
Minor & James Medical
Seattle, WA
DIGITAL DOCTORS
DOCTOR WANTED: It used to be if you needed a new doctor, you could ask friends or coworkers for recommendations and hope they could point you in the right direction. These days, the search for a doctor can start and end with the click of a mouse. If you type 'doctor ratings' into your search engine, you'll find countless reviews for just about every doctor available. Some doctors have even begun posting videos of themselves on their websites to showcase their personality, bedside manner and medical knowledge. In today's world, where virtually everything is on the Web, doctor seeking can be added to the ever-growing list.
THE DOCTORS TAKE: Some doctors and medical professionals are wary of unregulated commentary and reviews. They make the case that not everyone's personalities are compatible and one person's bad experience can be another's good experience. A bad review can hurt the reputation of a doctor and often, anonymous reviews don't accurately represent the doctors ability.
TIPS FOR YOUR ONLINE SEARCH: Here are five tips to keep in mind when searching online for a doctor. (SOURCE: CNN.com)
1. Decide what you care about: Determining whether you're looking for a permanent doctor or someone to treat a temporary ailment will help you prioritize features your looking for. If it's an office you'll be visiting regularly, a friendly staff and convenient location might be more important, whereas if you'll only be going once, those things probably won't matter.
2. Look for numbers: Statistically speaking, a doctor with a large number of reviews will probably be more accurately rated than one with just a few.
3. Look for specifics: Specific examples will give you a better idea of what the doctor is like rather than vague adjectives, like he or she was 'nice' or 'a good doctor'.
4. Look for patterns: If 10 people in a row left comments about a doctor's excellent bedside manner, you can probably bet their bedside manner is better than average.
5. Use objective information: Along with personal reviews, check out the doctor's actual degrees and certifications.
SMART WOMAN CONTACT:
Carol Gilmore, M.D.
Minor & James Medical
Seattle, WA
http://www.minorandjames.com/our_physicians/internal_medicine/gilmore.htm
