15-Jan-2024 | Ibad
Behind The White Coat – 5 Things to Verify About Your Doctor’s Credentials
Verify your doctor's credentials to safeguard your health. Hospitals may skip background checks, risking underqualified practitioners. Prioritize treatment from doctors thoroughly vetted through comprehensive checks, including license, education, employment, good standing, and house job verification by the facility's management.
Is your doctor a qualified medical professional?
Does your doctor have sound expertise and training in their work?
Is your doctor’s academic background associated with a reputed and certified medical institution?
If you don’t have an answer to these questions, then you haven’t carried out a background check, and you should be wary.
Each year, half a million people die in Pakistan due to medication errors made by doctors and pharmacists. , and many more lose their lives to malpractice.
While some of these casualties might result from genuine human error, this statistic underlies a frightening implication – unqualified medical professionals treating patients across healthcare institutions in the country.
Your health is everything, and when you care for so many things about your well-being, doctor credential verification should be at the top of your list. Here are some verifications you require to ensure your doctor has the correct education, training, skills, expertise, and experience to treat you.
Medical board license verification
The medical board license proves the doctor has been cleared to practice medicine legally. Licensed doctors are registered with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, which is the source to corroborate a doctor’s credibility.
Education verification
Being aware of where a doctor received their education can give you an insight into the quality of education they received, the kind of educational resources available to them, and the exposure they had.
Medical schools are regulated by the respective provincial health departments and have to be registered with the Pakistan Medical Commission to be considered legitimate. There are plenty of substandard or unverified medical schools in the country, which means that many quacks are practising in the country, endangering the health of patients.
House job verification
Knowing where your doctor completed their house job enables you to understand their credentialing process, and also to understand what kind of professional and practical exposure they have had.
If a doctor has done their house job at a renowned healthcare facility that is known for its rigorous training, you can be assured that your doctor has had ample opportunities to learn and practice. While house job verification is a time-consuming process, it is essential to ensure the doctor’s skill and capabilities.
Employment verification
Employment verification is part of the background check which helps to ascertain their track record. Past employers can be asked to verify claims, check for malpractice cases, and to get a solid reference of their skills and expertise.
Good standing
Good standing refers to the overall reputation that the doctor has. Patients, colleagues, mentors, and others who have experience of working with the doctor can all contribute to this background check. But make sure to triangulate the information given by different people regarding the doctor to be sure that the reviews you get are legitimate.
Some final words….
Background verification is essential for patient well-being, something that all medical facilities are legally and ethically bound to. Check Xperts can facilitate quick and efficient background verifications for doctors. As a member of the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) and an ISO 27001-certified background verification company, they possess the network, databases, and expertise required to verify your doctor’s credentials. This assures you or your patients that they are in good hands.
It is important to ensure the authenticity of your doctor and ensure that the doctor you consult has been screened through these checks so that you don’t fall victim to fraud and jeopardize your health.
