If you're looking for a new physician, trying to decide on the best hospital to have your baby at, or just want to find out a little more about your current doctor, we have resources to help.
Unfortunately there's not just one source for all the answers, and figuring out what to do can be a headache. But ease your research pain by visiting us at the Information Services desk to consult with a reference librarian. Or check out these sources on your own.
Doctors
In print:
Directory of Physicians in the United States: Lists physicians alphabetically and geographically. Each physician listing contains valuable information on specialties, type of practice, medical school attended and certification.
The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists: Biographical and professional information about more than 729,000 board certified physicians in 50 plus specialties and 100 plus subspecialties.
America's Top Doctors: From the publisher, Castle Connolly: "We identify the top doctors in America and provide consumers with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise."
Chicago Health: Top Doctors & Hospitals: Chicago physician information, also from Castle Connolly.
Chicago Consumers' Checkbook: Shows ratings for physicians as rated by other doctors by specialty. A separate section includes highly ranked primary care doctors (including pediatric physicians) as rated by patients.Ask for these at the Information Services Desk. Also includes information on dentists, which is hard to find.
Online:
Doctor Finder from the American Medical Association: Basic information includes schooling, residency, specialties, and phone and address. Less information (generally just contact information) is available about non-AMA members.
License Look-Up from the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation: Shows the license number, when it was issued, if it's active, and when it expires. Information regarding disciplinary actions taken against individual licensees, including the date(s) of discipline and a brief synopsis are included for any actions taken since 1990.
Chicago Consumers' Checkbook (online use available in the Library, only): Shows ratings for physicians as rated by other doctors by specialty. A separate searchable database includes highly ranked primary care doctors (including pediatric physicians) as rated by patients.
Hospitals
Comparative Guide to American Hospitals: Provides a snapshot profile of each of the nations 4,300+ hospitals. These informative profiles illustrate how the hospital rates when providing 47 different treatments, provides an easy-to-use Regional State by State Statistical Summary Tables for each of the data elements to allow the user to quickly locate the hospitals with the best level of service.
Online:
US News & World Report Best Hospitals: Easy-to-use overview, based on a variety of factors.
Hospital Compare from the Department of Health and Human Services: This is where US News gets the raw data for their list. You may create your own search criteria based on geography, plus specific medical conditions or surgical procedures. Or you can do a general search.
To learn more about health conditions, diseases, conventional and alternative medicine, and lots more, please visit our Health & Medicine Subject Guide.
Be well!
HK
Unfortunately there's not just one source for all the answers, and figuring out what to do can be a headache. But ease your research pain by visiting us at the Information Services desk to consult with a reference librarian. Or check out these sources on your own.
Doctors
In print:
Directory of Physicians in the United States: Lists physicians alphabetically and geographically. Each physician listing contains valuable information on specialties, type of practice, medical school attended and certification.
The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists: Biographical and professional information about more than 729,000 board certified physicians in 50 plus specialties and 100 plus subspecialties.
America's Top Doctors: From the publisher, Castle Connolly: "We identify the top doctors in America and provide consumers with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise."
Chicago Health: Top Doctors & Hospitals: Chicago physician information, also from Castle Connolly.
Chicago Consumers' Checkbook: Shows ratings for physicians as rated by other doctors by specialty. A separate section includes highly ranked primary care doctors (including pediatric physicians) as rated by patients.Ask for these at the Information Services Desk. Also includes information on dentists, which is hard to find.
Online:
Doctor Finder from the American Medical Association: Basic information includes schooling, residency, specialties, and phone and address. Less information (generally just contact information) is available about non-AMA members.
License Look-Up from the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation: Shows the license number, when it was issued, if it's active, and when it expires. Information regarding disciplinary actions taken against individual licensees, including the date(s) of discipline and a brief synopsis are included for any actions taken since 1990.
Chicago Consumers' Checkbook (online use available in the Library, only): Shows ratings for physicians as rated by other doctors by specialty. A separate searchable database includes highly ranked primary care doctors (including pediatric physicians) as rated by patients.
Hospitals
Image: jannoon028 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
In print:Comparative Guide to American Hospitals: Provides a snapshot profile of each of the nations 4,300+ hospitals. These informative profiles illustrate how the hospital rates when providing 47 different treatments, provides an easy-to-use Regional State by State Statistical Summary Tables for each of the data elements to allow the user to quickly locate the hospitals with the best level of service.
Online:
US News & World Report Best Hospitals: Easy-to-use overview, based on a variety of factors.
Hospital Compare from the Department of Health and Human Services: This is where US News gets the raw data for their list. You may create your own search criteria based on geography, plus specific medical conditions or surgical procedures. Or you can do a general search.
To learn more about health conditions, diseases, conventional and alternative medicine, and lots more, please visit our Health & Medicine Subject Guide.
Be well!
HK
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