doctors - is Angies List a good way to pick one? Who's the "3rd party" that supposedly nixes

[sam11111]

Feedback on the List from the dr himself under a fake name and feedback from hostile competing dr's. ?

I don't see how they can cull out those two kinds of static.

Fake names are all over the web.

Thank you! Sam

[girl_interrupted]

1. Not sure about Angie's List

But always make sure the doctor you go to is board certified. There is also a site www.vitals.com where you can check on a doctor to see if he is board certified, what his educational background is, what hospitals he practices at, what awards he has been presented with etc, and comments from patients.

A lot of times word of mouth helps, friends you might know that have used a certain doctor and have been satisfied and if you already have a physician you trust and need a doctor in a specialty, his recommendation could be very helpful too.

Good Luck!

[sam11111]

2. thank you GI ! like the Board idea

And link. Those look like solid fact sources!

Sam

[FSogol]

3. I've always avoided things like Angies List. They may start with good intentions, but will always

devolve into someone paying to be on the list, someone paying to clean up bad reviews, or pr reviews by the subject themselves. Also, they cost money.

Need to choose a doctor or some tradesman? Ask friends and co-workers for recommendations. That'll be free and honest.

[sam11111]

4. Thanks FS. you have echoed my suspicions about Angie

She also costs 60$ ! Ouch.

Good reply FS.

SAm

[bemildred]

5. Web tributes are not worth a bucket of warm spit. nt

[sam11111]

6. thanks Bemildrid

Probably true!

[bemildred]

7. The first thing you do is write yourself some glowing reviews.

Or get some of your friends to help so it's more "realistic".

[sam11111]

8. that must be happening on Angies nt

N

[bemildred]

9. It happens everywhere, it happens here.

And the guys that do it are the ones you don't want to go to. So you can use a sort of reverse applause filter, and never go to providers with modest numbers of unrealistic positive reviews. If the guy has thousands of reviews, almost all positive, then that might mean something.

[sam11111]

10. might use those last two ideas Thanks!! nt

N

[Celebration]

11. i found a decent roofer from Angie's List

And a good tree person.

I haven't tried them for doctors, but have looked at the reviews of some I go to. Honestly I think I could tell if there were a bunch of paid people or even friends recommending doctors. The reviews of the doctors I saw seemed honest. I can't really imagine a doctor asking friends to join Angies and say stuff. With the free sites I think it is more of a problem in general with construction people, etc. Angie's has been worth the money to me. But there really aren't enough doctors' reviews in Angie's in my community to make a difference. Maybe in larger metro areas there are more, although my city isn't small by any means.