According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), cases of delayed, missed or incorrect diagnoses are common, in the range of 10% to 20%. While some of these errors are due to misinterpretations of diagnostic tests, the most glaring problems are errors related to the healthcare system and errors caused by faulty reasoning by the healthcare provider. The truth is that not all doctors are the best doctors. Some doctors graduate from the best medical schools with the best grades and continue to participate in the best residencies. Other doctors roam through lower-level medical schools with poor grades and less competitive residencies. Still, other doctors fall in the middle, and their success depends on how they care for patients and their side of the bed. As a health care consumer, you want to trust your doctor. This can be a difficult task, especially since every doctor-patient relationship is just that: a relationship. Not all doctors are right for every patient, and it can take time to find the right doctor for you. Finding the Right Doctor for You Rather than settling for the first MD you meet, use these tips to find the best doctor for you and your health situation. 1. Search for references One of the best ways to find a high-quality doctor is to simply ask. Donna Ross, a medical social worker and patient care services manager for the Chris Elliott Fund, says, "First of all, word-of-mouth and personal recommendations can be very helpful. If it were me chinese food near me, I would engage in a detailed discussion. and exhaustive about what a friend or acquaintance found commendable about the doctor and if there was any possibility of improvement. " With that said, she cautions that "you should never assume that your priorities are the same as everyone else's." A personal reference is useful, especially when you know that you share the same values ​​as the reference, but ultimately it is just a way to reduce risk. countryside.