How do you know if your doctor is qualified? You usually don’t. You need to do some research. Ask these questions:

• Where did your doctor get their medical degree?

• How long have they been in practice?

• How long have they been performing the procedure you need?

• What are their successes or outcomes?

• What are others saying about them?

• Have they had any disciplinary action taken against them?

What about your chosen hospital or health facility? Consider this:

• What type of care does the facility specialize in? Click here for definitions of different types of care.

• Are they accredited by the Joint Commission (JHACO)? Click here to learn more.

• What are their current health outcome statistics? Do people who receive care at that facility recover properly?

• How many medical mistakes have happened at this facility and what was the result of those medical mistakes. Click here to research this on the Minnesota Department of Health website.

Click here for more questions to consider when choosing a hospital or facility.

The web is a wealth of information when it comes to researching doctors and health care facilities. Here are some of our favorites:

American Medical Association Dr. Finder

Minnesota Board of Medical Practice

Health Grades

Healthcare Scoop

Minnesota Health Information - Links to several sites where you can compare cost and quality at hospitals, physician and medical groups, and other facilities.

Healthcare Facts - Developed by BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota, lets you ‘shop’ for healthcare using information about quality, price, number of procedures done, adverse events, and other performance information at Minnesota hospitals and primary care clinics.

The Leapfrog Group - Provides hospital safety and quality ratings based on multiple factors.

Minnesota Hospital Quality Report - Contains a database showing how well hospitals treat heart attacks, heart failure, and pneumonia.

Minnesota Community Measurement - Shows you how your clinic or provider group compares to others in areas of care such as breast or cervical cancer screenings, diabetes care, high blood pressure, and asthma treatment.

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What this means for YOU:

Now more than ever, you have the tools to find as much background information as possible on your chosen health care provider and facility. Use those tools. You wouldn’t go to just ANY mechanic when it’s time to get your car fixed. Chances are you’d do your homework first. It should be no different when it comes to your medical care.