Here Are the Secrets to Finding the Best Doctors, According to Doctors

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Ask hospital employees

“Their word trumps an Ivy League degree, prestigious titles, and charm.”—Marty Makary, MD, author of Unaccountable: What Hospitals Won’t Tell You and How Transparency Can Revolutionize Health Care

Here’s how doctors make sure they get the best medical treatment.

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Choose a doctor who instructs others

“I’d look for a doctor who is certified to train other doctors. They are called ‘fellowship directors.'”—A plastic surgeon

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When it’s serious, go to a teaching hospital

“You’ll get doctors involved with the latest in medicine. Even for simple cases, if there’s a complication that requires an assist device or a heart transplant, some hospitals may not be able to do it. At a university hospital, you also have the advantage of having a resident or physician bedside 24-7, with a surgeon on call always available.”—Tomas A. Salerno, MD, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

These are the secrets hospitals won’t tell you.

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Don’t assume your primary care physician knows best

“Referrals may be politically motivated or be given because the doctors work within the same multi-specialty group.”—Howard Luks, MD, chief of sports medicine and arthroscopy at Westchester Medical Center and University Orthopaedics

Here’s how to tell whether you have a good doctor or a bad doctor.

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Listen for subtle word clues

“We’re not going to tell you your doctor is incompetent, but if I say, ‘You have the right to a second opinion,’ that can be code for ‘I don’t like your doctor’ or ‘I don’t trust your doctor.'”—Linda Bell, RN, clinical practice specialist at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses in Aliso Viejo, California

Follow these tips to find a doctor you can trust.

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It sounds trivial, but don’t overlook their magazines

“When choosing a dentist, check if the magazines in the waiting room are current. That shows attention to detail.”—Michael Alkon, DMD

Here are 12 more things your dentist wants you to know.