In searching for an internist or family doctor Miami Beach patients were once forced to rely on the Yellow Pages, print ads, or simple word-of-mouth to get in touch with a doctor who met their family’s needs.  Today, however, more and more people are searching for a physician online – and the popularity of online doctor rating websites has soared.

How do doctor rating websites work?
These websites offer users a way to rate their physicians, surgeons, cardiologists, and more online as well as see how other physicians measure up.  Patients can search the name of a particular doctor or search for a doctor in a specific area to find a physician who meets their standards of care.  While many sites feature user logins and screennames allowing other users to track a particular rater’s activity, some simply (and conveniently) allow any visitor to fill out an online survey about their physician.

Why should I rate my doctor online?
Rating your doctor online has a number of benefits for you, for other patients, and for your doctor.  It allows you to voice your opinions about the care you recieved, and you can help other patients make the right choices about their care by helping them select a good physician.  It also allows your doctor and your doctor’s staff to see how patients really feel about their office.  These websites, however, seem to provide the most benefit for patients in search of a physician – finding someone with an efficient office, good bedside manner, and access to modern equipment is easy with online reviews from real patients.

As an internist Miami Beach physician Dr. Ronny Aquinin is proud to have earned top marks on sites like HealthGrades.com and Vitals.com.  For more information on Dr. Aquinin’s practice, visit him online at www.ronnyaquininmd.com.