Checking a physician's credentials online is a handy way to find the important information you need
Fernando Milani
Doctor-Finder Tools
The American Medical Association (www.ama-assn.org). Listings are given for just about every M.D. in the country. You can search by name, specialty, or locale. Details include contact information, board certification, education, and residency.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (www.familydoctor.org). Enter your city or ZIP code for a list of AAFP doctors in your area.
The National Library of Medicine (www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/directories.html). This site has links to dozens of "Doctor Finder" tools for general practitioners as well as specialists ranging from nurse-midwives to thyroid experts.
Credential Checkers
The American Board of Medical Specialties (www.abms.org). Go here to check the board certification of up to five doctors a day.
The Federation of State Medical Boards (www.abms.org). Here are links to all 50 state medical boards. You can look up a doctor's credentials and, in many states, lawsuit history and discipline record for free.
