And patient-satisfaction ratings were nowhere to be found for most listed doctors. Other doctor guides have their own reliability problems as well, ranging from limited doctor choice to questionable rating methods. Sarah Loughran, HealthGrades senior vice president, says the company will now review state medical-board discipline lists every week and would like to add more satisfaction ratings. But our simple survey shows Internet technology isn't making informed choices any easier. When picking a primary-care physician, your main source for medical help, it's easy to get frustrated.
Health care sucks.
It's like looking for a needle in a haystack. Yet you can find that needle if you know where to look. There's a lot of available information on doctors. It's just not all in one place, so forget about one-stop shopping. First, think about what makes a good doctor.