Does Your Doctor Make the Grade? Database of Doctor Ratings are Around the Corner

by James Lewis

JIm is a Virginia injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, FELA, wrongful death, etc.

12/7/2011
James Lewis
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Does Your Doctor Make the Grade? Physician Report Cards Coming Soon

Medicare is planning to allow insurance companies, consumer groups and employers access to the government’s extensive claims database in order to produce report cards on doctors and hospitals. The goal is to ensure consumers have more information when looking for a specialist or particular hospital for treatment. Doctors will be identified through Medicare files, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

The president of Pacific Business Group on Health pointed out that most people pick doctors blindly. They do very little research or they just go to a doctor who is in their insurance network. It is not unreasonable to argue that the blind selection of doctors may contribute to medical malpractice injuries.

Under the new system, if you choose a doctor who is graded at a D+, at least you will know you are taking a risk. Efforts to rate physicians using limited private insurance data ave been undertaken, but those projects have largely been limited to primary care doctors. This isn’t very helpful for patients looking for specialists in brain or heart surgery. Critics argue that doctors should not be subjected to some arbitrary grading process. However, rating systems are quite common in many professions.

For example, lawyers are subjected to various rating agencies. Our firm, for instance, is rated by U.S. News & World Report, Martindale-Hubbell, Avvo and other authorities. Fortunately, our firm has no “D+” grades. In fact, our firm has been recognized as one of the best Virginia injury law firms for personal injury litigation, and I have been recognized as one of the best medical malpractice lawyers in Virginia. Two other attorneys with our firm have 10, or superb, ratings on Avvo.

Before the new system is set up to rate doctors, many people will still be picking doctors blindly. Do not let this happen to you. Be prepared when you visit with a doctor. Get important information about the questions to ask your doctor so you can try to avoid medical malpractice injuries in our consumer report.

PA

Category: Medical Malpractice/Doctor Mistakes

Labels: best Virginia injury law firm Jim Lewis medical malpractice medical mistake Medicare Virginia medical malpractice lawyer

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have extensive experience handling medical malpractice and doctor mistake cases. Please take a few moments to review our medical malpractice case results. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Suffolk, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by the carelessness of a doctor, surgeon, nurse or pharmacist.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been recognized as among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Also, Rick and Jim have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

Members of our VA personal injury law firm have also been selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA medical malpractice firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

We offer free special reports on the Top 10 Tips from a Medical Malpractice Insider and the top five surgical errors you must know about.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.

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