Physicians
This section of Texas Health Compare is designed to help with your physician-related questions - especially about quality and costs. If you have questions about specific health care coverage issues, send them to ConsumerProtection@tdi.state.tx.us.
Quick Links: Cost & Quality | Additional Advice
Developed by:
Texas Health Care Policy Council & the Texas Department of Insurance
Compare Cost & Quality . . .
Start your search for information about a doctor at the Texas Medical Board website. It provides access to licensing and practice information for Texas medical doctors, including any disciplinary actions taken by the board. Other databases are available for physicians assistants and acupuncturist's. Look under the menu item "Services for Consumers" for additional databases.
Each search first asks you to accept an agreement on use of the data, then provides a summary view. Click on the physician's name to go to more detail.
If you are interested in some of the state's best internists and surgeons specializing in heart and other cardiovascular diseases, check the Texas Department of State Health Services Texas Cardiovascular Quality Recognition Program website. It includes information on physicians who participate in an ongoing program to improve the qualilty of cardiovascular care in the state.
Additional information about physicians is available at these websites.
The DocBoard.org website [ www.docboard.org/tx/df/txsearch.htm ] provides access to state licensing and disciplinary information. The website is sponsored by the Administrators in Medicine (AIM), the national organization for state medical and osteopathic board executive directors, including the Texas Medical Board.
The Recognized Physician Directory of the National Committee of Quality Assurance website [ http://www.ncqa.org/tabid/74/Default.aspx ] allows you to identify physicians who demonstrate a high level of performance in providing care in several specific areas, including diabetes care.
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Some additional advice . . .
Find a Good Doctor
- Ask for a recommendation from someone you know at a local hospital.
- Check your list of candidates for licensing and disciplinary actions through the State Board of Medical Examiners.
- Look for volume - when you need a particular procedure, surgeons who do them most often make fewer mistakes.
- Interview your candidates if possible and check in on their office staff. Look for a willingness to listen and answer your questions.
- Check on where they went to medical school. Was it a large, well-known school?
- Ask if they are willing to refer you to specific specialists if that's important to you.
- If you have a particular medical condition, ask if that would present any problems?
- Ask how many other patients they have with your condition.
Playing It Safe After You Find a Doctor
- When your doctor prescribes a new drug, remind him or her about any drugs or over-the-counter medications you routinely take.
- Make sure you can understand the prescription as written. Ask your doctor to spell out the name of the drug and specify the dose. Write that information down and verify it with the pharmacist.
- Know what drugs you take, when you should take them and any common side effects. Ask your pharmacist for written side effect information.
- Become an expert on your medical problem.
- Get a second opinion before you have surgery or other major procedure.
- Call back for your test results. Don't assume that all is well if you don't hear from your doctor.
- Ask your doctor to give you a copy of your complete medical file, including any diagnostic test results.
Additional resources
- The Find a Health Care Provider website [ www.healthfinder.gov ] is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help you find a health care provider, including general practitioner, specialists and treatment facilities. It also provides help in finding all kinds of health care facilities and other reliable health-related information.
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The list of websites included here should not be considered complete, nor should their inclusion be considered as an endorsement by the Texas Department of Insurance. TDI does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy of the websites listed.
For more information contact: