From the founder:
Several years ago, my uncle in Chicago developed Parkinson disease.
He began treatment under the care of a neurologist, but did not improve.
Over time, the family became dissatisfied with the neurologist, and
wanted to switch doctors.
Although I am a physician,
I am not a neurologist and have never lived
in Chicago. I therefore knew no neurologists there, let alone a good one.
It took me some time to remember that a cardiologist friend was on the
staff of a major Chicago teaching hospital. I called him up, told him
my uncle's situation, and asked if he knew of a local neurologist with
a special interest in Parkinson disease. My friend did not immediately
know, but called back in a few days, after asking around his hospital.
What happened next surprised
me, even though I had seen it innumerable times before in academic medicine.
The neurologist with the special interest in Parkinson disease saw
my uncle and discovered
that he did not have Parkinson disease after all, but a similar
and, unfortunately, more difficult condition to treat.
The news was simultaneously disappointing and reassuring. It was
disappointing because my uncle was not going to get better. But it was
reassuring because the new neurologist's patient, thorough evaluation,
in which he had seen something missed or ignored by other physicians,
gave the family confidence that he could be trusted with the care
of my uncle. This lifted a very large burden from us.
I thought frequently about this incident as time passed. I thought of
my good fortune to know people like my friend in Chicago, who, in turn,
knows good people. Being a physician, I was "plugged in" to the
medical establishment -- but had I been in the 99% of the population
that are not physicians, I could see that my options would have been
appallingly limited.
The idea for ExpertMapper grew out of this experience.
There is no reason that physicians should have a monopoly on knowing
who the experts are.
Of course, there are many qualities besides expertise that make a
great physician, and each of us values different qualities differently.
ExpertMapper, therefore, is only a way to get started in your search for
a great doctor. Speaking personally, however, knowledge is
the most powerful weapon available to fight serious disease, and it's what I look for first.
I hope ExpertMapper helps you. Send us your stories about ExpertMapper. With
your permission, we may print them here. Best of luck.