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General Definitions
Specialty:
A Specialty is the branch of medicine the doctor practices. A Doctor may have more than one specialty,
or may have one or more subspecialties.
For instance, a doctor could specialize in Internal Medicine and have a subspecialty
in Infectious Disease.
Board Certified:
Certification means a doctor has successfully completed an
accredited educational program, passed several evaluations, and possesses the knowledge,
skills, and experience needed to provide care in the certified specialty.
Rating Definitions
Training
Medical School: A
Medical School
is an educational institution, which is involved in the education of future medical
practitioners (Medical Doctors). Completion
of medical school (4 years) earns students a doctor of medicine degree (MD)
Residency:
Residency is a 3+ year Training Program in a Medical Specialty
that takes place after graduating from medical school. A Doctor works in a hospital
and cares for hospitalized patients under the supervision of the senior medical
staff of the hospital. The length of
training varies from specialty to specialty.
Fellowship:
Fellowship Training is further training in a subspecialty
based on the doctor’s original specialty. This form of Training also takes place
in a hospital.
Expertise
Hospital Affiliation:
Associated Hospitals
that a doctor admits patients and practices medicine.
Most Doctors admit patients only to certain hospitals.
This is known as being ‘affiliated’ with the hospital.
Doctor Endorsement:
Other Doctor’s (Peers) endorse
a doctor’s work and medical practice.
Years of Experience:
Represents a Doctor’s Total
Years of Experience. This rating is
based on the how long the doctor has been practicing medicine and is calculated
from graduation of medical school. The longer a doctor has been practicing, the
more likely that he or she is experienced with a wide variety of issues.
We assign ratings based on the key below:
0-4 Years:
5-9 Years:
10-14
Years:
>15
Years:
Patient Opinion
Office Staff:
This is a measurement of how well you are treated before
you see the doctor. Base your opinion
on your experience making an appointment, how you are greeted for an office visit,
and how well the office staff meets your needs as a patient.
Office Setting:
This is a measurement of the appearance and cleanness, of
a doctor’s facilities.
Wait Time:
This represents how long you have to wait to get an appointment and how long you
have to wait in the doctor’s office.
Medical Knowledge:
Your Opinion of how knowledgeable
the doctor is in his or her field.
Bedside Manner:
The attitude and conduct of a physician in the presence of a patient.
Patient Confidence:
Your overall level of confidence
with the doctor’s ability to treat you.
If you would recommend this doctor to a family member or close friend, you should
rate the doctor favorably.
Patient Satisfaction:
This is your overall level of Satisfaction
with the Doctor and his or her Treatment.
Bonus
Advanced Training:
Further Training in addition to a Doctor’s
Residency and Fellowship.
Awards:
Bonus points are given to doctors for outstanding achievement
in their field of medicine.
Mark of Distinction:
Bonus Points are given to Doctors who are recognized
at the top of their field by Peers, Awards, Hospitals, and Research.
Rating Key
Excellent
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
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