In this computer age, the internet provides an amazing wealth of information pertaining to every subject under the sun. It is understood that ten years ago, only 20% of physicians/doctors availed internet facilities while today the numbers have multiplied manifold. The internet has a host of websites and online directories to help identify medicine as well as doctors. Web MD and 1866doctor.com are widely used physicians' directories and sites like LocateADoc have detailed listings of doctors and other medical professionals to help you choose the doctor suited to your needs

However you need to be extra careful when consulting a doctor as there may be a few quacks or doctors of doubtful credibility. There may also be a few maverick elements that offer miracle cures and suspicious alternative therapies to unsuspecting patients. There have also been some stray instances when some online doctor turns out to be fakes with no medical qualifications whatsoever.

Therefore make sure when searching for a doctor online, that he/she is qualified to treat the patients and has a proven track record. There are quite a few golden principles that you may apply for identifying the right doctor online. When you search for a doctor on the net, understand and be clear in your mind what qualifications a doctor must have to treat or evaluate your medical condition. Find out on the internet the reliability of the website you are using and whether the site has any prior complaints filed against it. Ask the doctor you select for referrals and make an effort to check their authenticity. It is preferable to compile a list of questions to ask the doctor so that you can determine how experienced and qualified the online doctor is.

Several well-known and leading hospitals have departments of telemedicine to offer online consultations. It is advisable to use their services instead of any individual doctor. When you find time, make it a point to read all you can about online malpractices in the field of medicine. It is essential to ascertain whether the doctor is a member of any recognized medical association or body.

Internet is indeed a huge boon for medical help. There are three different types of medical services available online. There are websites that provide reliable medical information online, there are websites that offer consulting online where medical doctors answer questions and offer consultations on health problems and there are online pharmacies where you can order prescription medicines even at discounted rates. DoctorFinder provides you with basic professional information on almost every licensed physician in the United States totaling to more than 814,000 doctor . AMA member physicians are offered an expanded listing that contains additional information such as office hours, accepted insurance providers, educational history and other helpful information.

There are websites available that provide exhaustive medical information which covers all your health questions. The online search tool gives you facility to identify the best doctors near to your home and also furnish the complete details about doctors including their clinic address, telephone number, qualification and medical history. The latest addition in several online doctor search websites is rating. Some sites do have a customer rating system where patients can rate doctors based on the medical treatment they received. You too can seize this opportunity to rate doctors and help your fellow citizens from getting the best treatment.