CHECKBOOK: Top local primary-care physicians
SEATTLE -- We've all heard about disgruntled patients suing their doctors. But a new trend has doctors challenging patients with legal action.
The flap is over popular Web sites on which patients rate their doctors, based on first-hand experience.
These Web sites allow patients to rant, rave and shop around for a doctor based on the reviews of other patients. But more and more, doctors are calling foul.
It used to be that if your doctor kept you waiting for hours or downplayed your health concerns, your only recourse was to complain, or find another doctor.
But over the past couple of years, dozens of Web sites have popped up to let you spread the word. Some let ask you to rate your doctor on a scale of one to 10. Some use a star rating system. Others let you post a comment about your experience.
At Consumers' CHECKBOOK, President Robert Krughoff and his staff take extensive customer surveys. The feedback comes from subscribers of Consumers' CHECKBOOK and Consumer Reports magazines.
Results of the latest local primary-care physician ratings are in the winter issue of Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK, which only lists the top-rated physicians.
This latest ratings are based on 11 factors, including overall quality, communication, personal manner, time spent and wait times.
Of the 196 Puget Sound-area primary care physicians to receive top patient ratings in the latest survey, the following were also listed in the "Top Doctors" guide as recommended by other physicians:
• John H. Addison - Mercer Island
• Elisabeth Cotton - Bellevue
• Alex Efird - Seattle
• Seth Franklin - Seattle
• Stacy Globerman - Seattle
• Bradley Harris - Seattle
• Steven Hayashi - Seattle
• Michael Hayden - Seattle
• Margo Kober - Seattle
• Martin Levine - Seattle
• Diana Perkinson - Seattle
• Kim Pittenger - Seattle
• Patricia Raymer - Seattle
• Sandra Rice - Seattle
• Ralph Rossi - Seattle
• Rodney Skoglund - Burien
• Connie Smith - Kirkland
• John Stimson - Seattle
• John B.Thomas - Seattle
• Henry Williams - Bellevue
• Alexander Mihali - Tacoma
Doctors don't seem to have a problem with Consumers' CHECKBOOK's rating approach. They're more concerned about the sites that allow patient comment, more specifically, negative, anonymous reviews which doctors say may not be true.
The solution is what many consumer advocates say amounts to a gag orders, in which the patient is asked to sign a waiver agreeing not to talk about the doctor's service online.
Angie's List founder Angie Hicks says gag orders are not the answer. Her site does not allow anonymous reviews and gives doctors and businesses a chance to respond.
Hicks agrees rating services should be held accountable, but not at the expense of a patient's rights to speak out. Hicks says her site will soon start listing physicians who have begun to require the patient waiver.
The American Medical Association acknowledges that comments posted on Web sites should be taken with a grain of salt, but so far, the AMA has not taken an official position on the doctors' waivers.
Some insurance companies, however, are reportedly testing third-party doctor ratings sites. At the same time, some doctors are suing patients over what they consider to be unfair negative reviews.
For more information:
The Problem of Physician Internet Libel and Web Defamation
Angry Plastic-Surgery Patients Vent Online; Doctors on Damage Control
The complete Puget Sound Consumers' CHECBOOK report on primary care physicians -- the link will be accesible to KOMO viewers only until Sunday, Feb. 7.
The flap is over popular Web sites on which patients rate their doctors, based on first-hand experience.
These Web sites allow patients to rant, rave and shop around for a doctor based on the reviews of other patients. But more and more, doctors are calling foul.
It used to be that if your doctor kept you waiting for hours or downplayed your health concerns, your only recourse was to complain, or find another doctor.
But over the past couple of years, dozens of Web sites have popped up to let you spread the word. Some let ask you to rate your doctor on a scale of one to 10. Some use a star rating system. Others let you post a comment about your experience.
At Consumers' CHECKBOOK, President Robert Krughoff and his staff take extensive customer surveys. The feedback comes from subscribers of Consumers' CHECKBOOK and Consumer Reports magazines.
Results of the latest local primary-care physician ratings are in the winter issue of Puget Sound Consumers' CHECKBOOK, which only lists the top-rated physicians.
This latest ratings are based on 11 factors, including overall quality, communication, personal manner, time spent and wait times.
Of the 196 Puget Sound-area primary care physicians to receive top patient ratings in the latest survey, the following were also listed in the "Top Doctors" guide as recommended by other physicians:
• John H. Addison - Mercer Island
• Elisabeth Cotton - Bellevue
• Alex Efird - Seattle
• Seth Franklin - Seattle
• Stacy Globerman - Seattle
• Bradley Harris - Seattle
• Steven Hayashi - Seattle
• Michael Hayden - Seattle
• Margo Kober - Seattle
• Martin Levine - Seattle
• Diana Perkinson - Seattle
• Kim Pittenger - Seattle
• Patricia Raymer - Seattle
• Sandra Rice - Seattle
• Ralph Rossi - Seattle
• Rodney Skoglund - Burien
• Connie Smith - Kirkland
• John Stimson - Seattle
• John B.Thomas - Seattle
• Henry Williams - Bellevue
• Alexander Mihali - Tacoma
Doctors don't seem to have a problem with Consumers' CHECKBOOK's rating approach. They're more concerned about the sites that allow patient comment, more specifically, negative, anonymous reviews which doctors say may not be true.
The solution is what many consumer advocates say amounts to a gag orders, in which the patient is asked to sign a waiver agreeing not to talk about the doctor's service online.
Angie's List founder Angie Hicks says gag orders are not the answer. Her site does not allow anonymous reviews and gives doctors and businesses a chance to respond.
Hicks agrees rating services should be held accountable, but not at the expense of a patient's rights to speak out. Hicks says her site will soon start listing physicians who have begun to require the patient waiver.
The American Medical Association acknowledges that comments posted on Web sites should be taken with a grain of salt, but so far, the AMA has not taken an official position on the doctors' waivers.
Some insurance companies, however, are reportedly testing third-party doctor ratings sites. At the same time, some doctors are suing patients over what they consider to be unfair negative reviews.
For more information:
The Problem of Physician Internet Libel and Web Defamation
Angry Plastic-Surgery Patients Vent Online; Doctors on Damage Control
The complete Puget Sound Consumers' CHECBOOK report on primary care physicians -- the link will be accesible to KOMO viewers only until Sunday, Feb. 7.