Diane Lore, Staff

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - July 27, 2000

      Atlanta is a great place to be sick.

      With thousands of doctors, dozens of hospitals and hundreds of chiropractors, massage therapists and centers for alternative medicine, newcomers should have no problem finding the health care they need.

      But how do you build a medical network from scratch, armed with probably no more than a list of providers from your insurer? How do you feel confident about the choices you make?

      Well, when it comes to finding a doctor or a hospital, medicine is still a low-tech world. Those who know still say the best way to start is to ask your friends or co-workers about health care providers they like and respect.

      "Word of mouth from folks still works," said Dr. Joy Maxey, president of the Medical Association of Georgia, the state's largest organization of more than 8,000 physicians. "Ask family members you might have in town, or business associates, or Rotary members, or those in your church, synagogue or mosque."

      Experts also recommend that newcomers call their county medical association or a hospital they like to get referrals.

      Of course, many newcomers don't have the luxury of picking any doctor or hospital they choose. Instead, they must start with a list provided to them by their managed care plans.

      What then? Dart it for a good doctor?

      Experts say newcomers might want to scan any list for doctors and hospitals located near home or work. Then they might want to call those offices and ask to talk to the physician or the office manager. Pediatricians, for example, will often offer parents a complimentary visit to see if they are a good match, Maxey said. Sometimes, internists and primary care physicians will also talk to new patients either in person or by phone about their concerns, wants and needs.

      You can also buy a book titled, "Guide to Top Doctors" ($19.95), published by the Center for the Study of Services, a nonprofit health care consumer group based in Washington. More than 15,000 physicians are listed by region, and sometimes by cities, with each receiving at least three recommendations from their peers.

      In Atlanta, 310 doctors were selected by their peers as being outstanding. The center then back-checked the doctors' board certifications, licenses and office telephone numbers.

      "This is not a precise science," said Robert M. Krughoff, the center's president. "But the bottom line is, if a physician keeps showing up on other doctors' lists, odds are they're going to be pretty good."

      You can buy the book by calling 1-800-213-7283 or writing to the Center for the Study of Services, 733 15th St. N.W., Washington, DC 20005. The price of $19.95 includes shipping and handling.

      Patients should also check the credentials of their doctors. Newcomers can do this by calling the Composite State Board of Medical Examiners of Georgia at 404-656-3913 or going to its Web site at www.sos.state.ga.us/ebd-medical/. By logging in physicians' names, newcomers can check the status of their licenses and whether any disciplinary orders have been filed against them.

      If you have a chronic condition, don't forget to bring your medical reports from your previous physician. This will make your transition to Atlanta go much more smoothly, experts say.

      And if you're just feeling under the weather and, sniff, you're all alone in your new city --- remember one more thing. Atlanta is well-wired, with three online grocery services. One of them, www.kozmo.com, specializes in delivering things like cough medicine, ice pops and videos in less than an hour. And that means you can stay tucked in your bed and just concentrate on getting better.

      Diane Lore is a consumer health columnist for the Journal-Constitution.

Copyright 2000 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution