Internet! Is there anything it can't do? Among its many, many benefits is the ability to search for health care providers in your area. Some sites will even let you provide ratings for doctors, in order for you to provide a truly accurate, first-hand account of a physician's quality of care, bedside manner, and so on. For example, this fellow seems like quite a fantastic pediatrician:
Oct 14, 2009
BEST PEDIATRICIAN IN BERKS!
Reviewer: Kelly
My son has been from specialist to specialist about his problems with ADHD and asthma, all of which fall short in comparison to Dr. A. Within minutes my son opened up to Dr. A and told him how he felt about the problems he was having at home and school. As a single mother, I was very happy to see him encouraging my son to keep trying in school and ultimately go on to college. I have now seen a complete turn-around in my son's behavior and performance in school, he went from all Cs to nearly all As. He also is the only doctor that has been able to keep my son out of the hospital by controlling his asthma with a daily medication, cutting down his use his emergency inhaler ten fold. I wish all doctors had the same passion, skill and communication ability as Dr. A, he has completely changed my son's future for the best. I could not thank him enough, he is what every doctor should strive to be like and I could not recommend anyone but him after the success my son has had.
Hell yes, I would have taken my son to that doctor...in 2009. Pediatrics is a supremely dynamic field, and it's very easy for a physician to get out of date quickly. Let's hope that this particular doctor's skills haven't deteriorated at all in the last few years. I mean, days [these and other vastly more offensive reviews have now been scrubbed by vitals.com]:
May 9, 2012
HORRIBLE
Doctor holds you responsible for actions of others that you can't control. Will never go back. Would rather go to a doctor friendly with an URBAN population.
May 7, 2012
SOMETHING JUST DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT
Something is just not right about this doctor, don't know what it is. Something just didn't feel right.
May 6, 2012
Very rude DR. No bed side manner.
May 6, 2012
NOT WORTH THE WAIT
A very rude man.
Wow, that's a really bad four days of work. What could have possibly happened to spark such a negative, detail-free string of comments?
[Not even going to address the most offensive of the comments on the Vitals page. Seriously, people?]
QUICK TO JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS
Didn't spend enough time listening to me. Was quick to give a diagnosis without listening to all the facts.
May 6, 2012