Question: I will soon be moving to a new community. What is the best way to locate a family physician or a specialist?

Dr. Hibberd's Answer:

Call the National Specialty Society in the discipline you are looking for and ask for a listing of member physicians who work in your area.

Membership in these organizations mandates more stringent entrance and membership education than state licensure or insurance company affiliation, and they provide forums of discussion for member physicians. For example, for a Family Physician (M.D.), contact the AAFP (which stands for The American Academy of Family Physicians). The AMA (American Medical association) also maintains a data base, but this is mainly a political organization now, and entry criteria are less stringent.

For specialty referral, it is usually best to obtain the advice and referral of your family physician to guide your selection.