For this reason, your family physician may not know of a good acupuncturist or massage therapist, but that doesn't mean there aren't any. In my clinic, the majority of our referrals are from clients who have told other people about us. This is, I'm sure, because I am a naturopath, and definitely do not operate within the mainstream of medicine, and am not well known there. This may be true in your community as well. There are also bulletin board listings in most health food stores that may point you in the right direction.
Word of mouth is definitely still the number one referral source.
So ask your friends who they see and why. When it comes to doctors in your area, see if you can find a nurse who has worked with the physicians at your favorite hospital to give you a recommendation. Check out credentials. Board certification in one's specialty is evidence that a doctor has passed a number of qualifying exams that measure competence to practice in his or her chosen field. Of course, you will want to know a specialist's training, and most good ones have this information readily available in their practice brochures.