How Does Your Doctor Compare? Report Rates Physician Groups In Metro Detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) - Are you sure you're receiving the proper quality of care from your doctor?

New ratings published in Consumer Reports magazine give consumers in the metro Detroit area a rare window into how their doctors compare. Known as "The Doctor Project," the ratings focus on how well doctors provide evidence-based care for patients with high cholesterol and diabetes, and how often doctors provide the right screening tests for colon cancer.

"It is surprisingly difficult for a patient with diabetes to find out which doctors provide the best diabetes care," Susan Mende, senior program officer the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said in a statement. "These ratings provide a starting point for patients to talk with their doctor about the right care for their condition, and potentially choose a specific practice that provides high-quality care."

The Greater Detroit Area Health Council worked with 13 large networks of physicians to collect and report data on the quality of medical care they provide. The quality of care varies: one group earned top scores in all three measures, and two others earned top scores for two of the three measures.

"We have been working in the greater Detroit region for more than a decade to provide both consumers and clinicians with objective information about the quality of care provided at local medical practices and hospitals," Steven Grant, chairman of the board of the Greater Detroit Area Health Council, said in a statement. "Making this information available is an important step toward improving the care and overall health of people in our area."

The doctor ratings are part of the May issue of Consumer Reports and available online at ConsumerReports.org. The ratings will also be available at gdahc.org for no charge.