Find Doctors, Hospitals, and Health Care Facilities
Finding a doctor you trust or a hospital that fits your needs can be hard. Here are some tips and resources to help you choose:
- Check your insurance plan to see if there is a pre-approved list for doctors or hospitals.
- Search the MedlinePlus directory for doctors, providers, health care centers, and services.
- Find mental health services and get help for substance abuse.
- Review the National Library of Medicine’s checklist of what to look for when picking a primary care doctor.
- If you are pregnant, find out how to choose the right health care provider.
- Even if you’re not insured, you can get help from a health care center or community clinic near you.
- Use the Physician Compare website to find Medicare-certified doctors and health care facilities.
Check Doctor Accreditations
Before making an appointment, learn about a doctor’s credentials.
- Find out if your doctors are licensed to practice medicine in your state. A state or local occupational and professional licensing board will be able to give you this information.
- Use the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Certification Matters lookup to find out if a doctor is board-certified in the appropriate specialty.
- Look into how often or how well a medical professional has treated patients with your condition. Contact your state’s health department.
- Check with your state medical board for any complaints or disciplinary actions taken against your health care provider.
Check Hospitals and Other Health Care Facilities
- Compare the quality of care at over 4,000 Medicare-certified hospitals and Veterans Administration hospitals across the country.
- Check the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program’s list of accredited hospitals, surgical centers, mental health centers, and physical rehabilitation facilities.
Get Help with Lowering Health Care Costs
- Learn how government programs can help you to lower your medical costs.
