Need a doctor? Here are ways to find one

So many medical innovations are available to patients, yet it is often difficult to get enough information about a healthcare provider to make an informed decision.

Call the Cape Girardeau County Area Medical Society and they'll send you a list of local physicians, but will not make any referrals, said a spokesman.

The same holds true with the Missouri Hospital Association, said public information officer Mary Becker. She said it is important that people know as much as possible about physicians before making a commitment to one.

Becker suggests that consumers find out which medical professional organization a doctor may be affiliated with; some carry prestige that will reflect on its members. Consumers should also find out whether or not a physician is board certified in her specialty, and where she went to medical school, Becker said.

Newcomers to the area could consult the Southeast Missourian's Newcomers Guide for information about both Cape Girardeau hospitals as well as hospitals in neighboring communities. The Newcomers Guide also carries information abut the different groups affiliated with the hospitals and what medical specialties they offer.

Some information is available on line. WebMD has a physician finder that is simple to use. Log on to www.webmd.com, and click on "find a doctor." You will then need to fill in the location you're looking for and the specialty, and a list will come up of physicians and their addresses. Another mouse click will tell you which hospital the doctor is affiliated with and what insurance he accepts.

The American Medical Association also has a physician locator service linking consumers to its member physicians. Log on to http://webapps.ama-assn.org/doctorfinder, and follow the prompts. The information available includes specialty, office hours, phone number, hospital admitting privileges, whether or not the doctor accepts Medicare, Medicaid and Workers Comp, name of medical school and residency training, philosophy of practice, achievements and awards and whether or not he is board certified.

But possibly the best way to find a physician or other healthcare provider is to ask someone you trust -- a relative, a co-worker, someone who has had experience with the specialty you're looking for.

"Talk to friends and family," said Becker of the Missouri Hospital Association. "That's the best way for people to do that."