The Chicago Tribune has a great article on how to check out your doctor. Some of the Web links in that article won't apply, as they're specifically for physicians practicing in Illinois, but the tips are useful nonetheless.

Unfortunately, there's no single clearinghouse for information about physicians and their competency, as this article notes. But with a little online research, you can find out a lot about the person who is overseeing your medical care.

It's a good idea to run a quick background check on your physician through the state medical board's Web site. It pays to be an informed consumer, in all instances. Before buying a car, most of do a little research to make sure we're getting the best deal and a safe vehicle. We certainly take a test drive and kick the tires before committing to buy.

When you're buying health care, you ought to take the same precautions. This is your health, after all.

Here are a few easy ways to check out your physician:

Verify that your doctor is board certified with the American Board of Medical Specialties at abms.org. The online service is free but requires registration.

For a fee, search the Federation of State Medical Boards, at www.docinfo.org, to learn if a doctor has been sanctioned by any medical board in the U.S.

Google your doctor's name. Advocacy groups and individuals sometimes post their medical experiences, good or bad, on Web sites and blogs. This information should be taken with a grain of salt because it is based on personal experiences and typically has not been investigated.

 

In North Carolina, you can search the N.C. Medical Board database to see if your physician or nurse practiioner is licensed to practice medicine in the state. This database will also tell you if your health care professional has ever been disciplined by the board, if he or she has any malpractice settlements over $75,000 and if the doctor has ever been convicted of any crime.

If you doctor practiced in other states before moving to North Carolina, it's a good idea to check the medical boards in those states for any disciplinary actions. You can pay to search the Federation of State Medical Boards or access each state's medical board directly through this online directory.