How to Choose a Doctor

I get asked this alot. Specifically, I can't really help you, but generally, here's where you can start.

First, make sure the doctor is licensed in California. All that info is made public, and includes anytime disciplinary action has been taken, including license suspensions and revocations. Look them up here, at the California Medical Licensing Board website.

But, I bet you didn't know that in order to be medically licensed, you do not need to be Board Certified. I repeat: You don't ever need to be Board Certified to practice medicine. Isn't that great? At Kaiser, they give us financial incentives to pass our boards by giving us a raise if we're Board Certified. If you're private practice,... no real incentive, except for advertising reasons. Makes me wonder if some of you out there are being treated by doctors that never bothered to pass (or even take) their Boards. Hmm....

To look up Board certification for the corresponding specialty, go to:
Internal Medicine: http://www.abim.org/who/index.shtm
Family Practice: https://www.theabfm.org/diplomate/find.aspx

And of course, my personal bias is to pick a doctor in Internal Medicine ;D. After all, if you're going to pay the same amount, wouldn't you rather go to an adult specialist?