Medical Doctor

Through our Inter Consultation service, a member's diagnosis and treatment plan are reviewed in detail by a leading physician expert. Our expert provides a comprehensive report, either confirming what the member has been told or recommending a change. It's like getting a second opinion, only better.

Members can get expert answers to basic questions about a diagnosis, treatment or a health condition. They call Best Doctors to discuss their concerns and we deliver their questions to the most appropriate specialist. We'll even help determine what questions to ask.

If a member needs to find a local specialist who is approved by his or her health plan, Best Doctors can help. We have a database of more than 53,000 medical experts in over 450 specialties and subspecialties. We'll find the doctor who's right for each member.

We help members understand all their treatment options, including drugs and medical procedures, before making a medical decision. We provide information, coaching and resources so that a member facing a medical challenge has a better idea of which step is best to take.

Best Doctors is a no-cost benefit provided by companies as part of their employee benefits package. It is also offered by health plans as a policyholder benefit.

Because they recognize the challenges and stresses that can occur when someone is uncertain about a medical diagnosis or treatment plan. Best Doctors helps people make medical decisions with confidence and ensures that they are getting the right care. It supplements the work of the member's own doctor(s) and does not replace it.

Today, 34% of all medical diagnoses are wrong. 68% of treatment plans require a correction. 38% of surgeries are unnecessary. With Best Doctors, members can be sure their diagnoses and treatment plans are right - and they can be confident they're making the right decisions about their health.

Best Doctors provides services for a wide range of medical conditions. They can include everything from back pain and sports injuries to chronic diseases and life-threatening illnesses. Best Doctors does not provide services for mental health disorders as in-person evaluations are more appropriate.

There are many examples of Best Doctors helping patients with everything from minor surgery to life-threatening illnesses.

► A high level of knowledge and clinical skills

► Professionalism

► Leadership skills

► Ethics

► Compassion

► Communication skills with diverse patients and colleagues

► Commitment to continued professional development

► Most medical schools require the Medical College Admission Test (MCATExternal Link)

► Medical school tests

► Bachelor's degree (BA or BS) from a college or university. There are also combined programs where students can obtain the BA and MD degrees.

► Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (DO)

Many physicians may also hold other advanced degrees, such as:

► Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

► Master's of Public Health (MPH)

► Master's of Business Administration (MBA)

► Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Law (JD)

A DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) is a physician just as an MD is a physician.

A physician is an MD or DO.

With a doctorate degree (e.g., PhD, EdD, PharmD [pharmacist], or DDS [dentist]) is a doctor as well.

Bring insurance cards, names and phone numbers of your other doctors, and the phone number of the pharmacy you use. Also, bring your medical records if your doctor does not have them.

As you get older, it becomes even more important to talk often and comfortably with your doctor. One reason is you may have more health problems and treatments to discuss. It's also because your health can have a big impact on other parts of your life, and that needs to be talked about too.

Your description should include what the symptom is, when it started, when it occurs, how long it lasts, how often you have it, and anything that makes it worse or better. Try to be as specific as possible.

Palliative medicine is a medical sub-specialty provided by doctors who offer palliative care for people who are seriously ill. Palliative care relieves suffering and improves quality of life for people of any age and at any stage in a serious illness, whether that illness is curable, chronic, or life-threatening.

Palliative care is whole-person care that relieves symptoms of a disease or disorder, whether or not it can be cured.