Physician Ratings - Finding the Right Practitioner

With the widespread access to the internet, prospective patients now are able to look into physician ratings and those of nurse practitioners, too, on medical websites. Hours of operation, location, philosophical approach such as alternative or traditional therapies, education and training, specialties and feedback from previous patients are all accessible with the click of the computer keyboard and mouse. Some people prefer a regular M.D. but many are seeking their medical care from a nurse practitioner instead.

A nurse practitioner is not simply a nurse. Nurses can be designated as R.N.s or L.P.N.s. An R.N. is a registered nurse and is a degree that has taken two to four years of training to earn. An L.P.N. is more of a vocational nurse with one year of training. A nurse practitioner, however, is nearly as educated as a physician. In order to become certified, an individual first must obtain a standard R.N. license. Next step is to earn a Master’s Degree and then go through the certification process. Certification is received from one of two agencies, the AANP or AACC. The AANP is the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the ANCC is the American Nurse’s Credentialing Center. An examination is required in order to become licensed. Specialty designations are available as well in areas such as psychiatrics, geriatrics, obstetrics and more.

An NP has the authority to diagnose illnesses and dispense prescription medications. Many individuals choose this health care professional for their primary practitioner. They are often less costly and more available for appointments. Many patients have found them to be more personable, as well. All of this will depend on the individuals involved, however.

In order to locate a doctor or nurse practitioner via online physician ratings sites, it’s important to screen the information you view carefully. The more reviews that one can read, the better the information received will be. A larger pool of responses or postings will paint a broader picture and allow a reader to weed out those posts which are either angry rants or blatantly slanted. Patients who choose to post about their experiences should take a responsible stance and approach this missive with journalistic perspective.

Noting facts and what actually happened rather than relying only on emotional response will give a clearer picture. Many sites are using scientific research methods in order to gather the feedback in order to provide quality information that will benefit both prospective patients and medical personnel.

Whether a person chooses a nurse practitioner or a doctor for their health care provider is a personal decision. NPs usually work in collaboration with a physician when additional expertise is necessary. It would be wise to check with potential medical practices to find out about the network of professionals within their office. Having access to more than one practitioner within an office would allow more availability for appointment scheduling.

When it’s time to find a new health care provider, viewing physician ratings online can help. If an individual is considering an N.P., reviews regarding these highly trained professionals are accessible, as well.