Medical Provider "watchdog" --what do you think?

[typewriter]

The concept: a website where consumers could honestly "rate" and comment on medical providers within their communities. This would potentially include alternative practitioners as well.

The objective is
1. disseminate fair and accurate information
2. to hold community providers accountable.

In talking to many people who have contended with the medical "system" it seems the unanimous experience is that there is a disconnect between providers and patients. The need is so great for medical professionals that there is very little accountability among many (of course not all) physicians. What constitutes a "good" provider also depends upon many variables including the patient and their individual needs.

This would be an effort to generate public feedback in a search format, allowing patients to decide on their priorities in a doctor, not the other way around! Just like you can read reviews on Amazon, Netflix, ebay, etc. before making a purchase, potential consumers would have the opportunity to learn about providers from feedback of other customers. And just like feedback on ebay alerts a possible customer to a seller's reputation...the feedback on the site would bridge the gap between word of mouth and taking a chance. Think of it like Consumer Reports for practitioners...but not funded by Pfizer.

I am simply playing with this notion; there are many details that would have to be considered and measures put in place to keep the information honest but not libelous of course.

If you have a few minutes to provide general feedback to the questions as follows, please do so (private or public up to you):

--Can you see yourself using a website like this?
--If so would you use to find physicians, leave feedback, or both? If not, why?
--What specific aspects would motivate you AND/OR prevent you from using a service like this?
--Other general feedback?

Thanks! I'd love to partner with the right people to make this happen so if your interest has been piqued, please get in touch!

[StormDancer]

As someone who recently tried on-line services to locate a new doctor, I would be interested. I finnally just went on gut feel, called someone and made an appointment. He seems nice and I hope I can work with him.
I'd be interested in catagories like insurances accepted, willingness to work with alternative healers and homeopathic medicines, what the provider expects from the patient, etc.
-AnnaLisa


The concept: a website where consumers could honestly "rate" and comment on medical providers within their communities. This would potentially include alternative practitioners as well.

The objective is
1. disseminate fair and accurate information
2. to hold community providers accountable.

In talking to many people who have contended with the medical "system" it seems the unanimous experience is that there is a disconnect between providers and patients. The need is so great for medical professionals that there is very little accountability among many (of course not all) physicians. What constitutes a "good" provider also depends upon many variables including the patient and their individual needs.

This would be an effort to generate public feedback in a search format, allowing patients to decide on their priorities in a doctor, not the other way around! Just like you can read reviews on Amazon, Netflix, ebay, etc. before making a purchase, potential consumers would have the opportunity to learn about providers from feedback of other customers. And just like feedback on ebay alerts a possible customer to a seller's reputation...the feedback on the site would bridge the gap between word of mouth and taking a chance. Think of it like Consumer Reports for practitioners...but not funded by Pfizer.

I am simply playing with this notion; there are many details that would have to be considered and measures put in place to keep the information honest but not libelous of course.

If you have a few minutes to provide general feedback to the questions as follows, please do so (private or public up to you):

--Can you see yourself using a website like this?
--If so would you use to find physicians, leave feedback, or both? If not, why?
--What specific aspects would motivate you AND/OR prevent you from using a service like this?
--Other general feedback?

Thanks! I'd love to partner with the right people to make this happen so if your interest has been piqued, please get in touch!

[Malene]

I think this idea absolutely rocks! I would definitely use it both to leave feedback about practitioners and to find practitioners.

Whenever I contemplate making a purchase of a larger item I go and spend time researching what other customers have said about the item.

There is also a web site (forgot the url, but I am sure it can be searched for) that allows college students across the US to rate professors. Service rocks and it allows students to try and plan their class's so they can avoid bad teachers.

If a person leaves a description of their experience with a practitioner it is never "libelous", as it is an honest description of what happened according to this one individual. There is no practitioner in the world that can always make everyone happy so over time some bad reviews will happen to a practitioner. I would suggest making it possible for the practitioner to post a reply to any review left for him / her.

So to answer your questions -

Yes - I would definitely use the site.
I would use the site to both leave feedback and search for practitioners
My motivation to use the site would be to find a good practitioner fast. As well as to let practitioners know how I feel about the way they treated me - good and bad. I would take joy both in posting a really glowing review and an honest account if I felt the treatment wasnt what was needed.
The main thing that would prevent me from using the service would be if I wanted / needed to protect my identity with medical information.

My interest is definitely picqued. Not sure I could offer much by way of help, but I am interested.

Malene





The concept: a website where consumers could honestly "rate" and comment on medical providers within their communities. This would potentially include alternative practitioners as well.

The objective is
1. disseminate fair and accurate information
2. to hold community providers accountable.

In talking to many people who have contended with the medical "system" it seems the unanimous experience is that there is a disconnect between providers and patients. The need is so great for medical professionals that there is very little accountability among many (of course not all) physicians. What constitutes a "good" provider also depends upon many variables including the patient and their individual needs.

This would be an effort to generate public feedback in a search format, allowing patients to decide on their priorities in a doctor, not the other way around! Just like you can read reviews on Amazon, Netflix, ebay, etc. before making a purchase, potential consumers would have the opportunity to learn about providers from feedback of other customers. And just like feedback on ebay alerts a possible customer to a seller's reputation...the feedback on the site would bridge the gap between word of mouth and taking a chance. Think of it like Consumer Reports for practitioners...but not funded by Pfizer.

I am simply playing with this notion; there are many details that would have to be considered and measures put in place to keep the information honest but not libelous of course.

If you have a few minutes to provide general feedback to the questions as follows, please do so (private or public up to you):

--Can you see yourself using a website like this?
--If so would you use to find physicians, leave feedback, or both? If not, why?
--What specific aspects would motivate you AND/OR prevent you from using a service like this?
--Other general feedback?

Thanks! I'd love to partner with the right people to make this happen so if your interest has been piqued, please get in touch!

[daynurse]

There are a slew of sites that already do this. Just do a dogpile search for "rate your doctor". Enjoy.