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Aetna's expanded "transparency" initiative, making physician pricing and quality data available free online to its Washington area members, represents a step up in consumer information, many health analysts say. But it isn't the only source of personal care information on the Web. Here are other options for researching your physician's background.
State Medical Boards
Search your state medical board's Web site to make sure your physician has a current medical license. Some states also provide details about board specialty areas, hospital privileges, disciplinary actions, malpractice settlements, medical school and date of graduation.
D.C. Board of Medicine http:/
Md. Board of Physicians http:/
Va. Board of Medicine http:/
Board Certifications
Physicians can be board-certified by professional groups in their specialty areas; these groups' sites often offer searchable online databases. Examples include:
American Board of Internal Medicine http:/
American College of Cardiology http:/
American College of Gastroenterology http:/
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists http:/
Other Web Sites
Administrators in Medicine This national organization offers links to the sites of several professional groups, and it permits searches of the databases of 20 state medical boards. http:/
Consumers' Checkbook Guide to Top Doctors The nonprofit that publishes Consumers' Checkbook magazine asked about 260,000 doctors in 50 urban areas around the country to recommend other physicians; the resulting database includes the more than 20,000 doctors who were mentioned most often. Cost: $24.95 for either a two-year online subscription or a book. http:/
Federation of State Medical Boards Get a report of disciplinary actions taken against a doctor for $9.95. http:/
Health Grades Offers physician quality reports -- including board certification, disciplinary actions, professional background and results from patient surveys -- for $12.95. http:/
-- January W. Payne
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