Just what the patient ordered

You probably spend more time researching a big-screen TV purchase than finding the right doctor.

Perhaps it's because there's no Best Buy for physicians. But it's also because there's virtually no public information about individual doctor performance. Type ''find a doctor" into Google and the result is names and telephone numbers and little else.

''Getting a doctor off the Internet is a little like a blind date," said Dr. Laurence Ronan, a Massachusetts General Hospital physician and chief internist for the Boston Red Sox. ''How do you know if any of those websites has any validity and is not biased?"

Larger copayments and higher-deductible health insurance plans are putting a larger burden on consumers to take charge of their own healthcare. Prescription drug advertising alone acquaints them with treatments for everything from rheumatoid arthritis to sexual impotence.

So how to improve your shopping prowess on a matter of life and death?

The old-fashioned way, Ronan said. Ask family and friends to recommend a primary care physician. That doctor can either be an internist, family physician, or for children, a pediatrician. Your primary care doctor is critical because he or she not only will be monitoring your health routinely but serves as your gateway to the healthcare system if you ever need to be hospitalized or to see a specialist.

A relative or coworker, said Ronan, will provide a quick screen on basic issues: Male or female? Friendly or gruff? Age is another big factor. Older doctors have seen it all, while younger, tech-savvy doctors may be better suited for the BlackBerry set.

''People who have been in practice for a long time develop a lot of clinical wisdom, but some of the youngest doctors fresh out of training theoretically have the up-to-date knowledge, so I think there's a trade off," Ronan said.

Not everyone agrees with Ronan that asking your friends is a good way to find a doctor.

''That's probably the worst way. You would find a doctor with a good manner, but you have no idea of their other qualifications," said Dr. Harris Berman, former chief executive of Tufts Health Plan and chairman of the nonprofit Massachusetts Health Quality Partners, which runs a website to help consumers find Massachusetts health care providers.

Berman recommends putting faith in select websites. Each of the big Massachusetts plans -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and Tufts -- offers basic information online such as a doctor's location and qualifications. Those plans have limited information about the quality of group practices, but nothing on individual doctors.

Healthcare shoppers can also go to the Massachusetts Health Quality Partners website, mhqp.org, starting in April to find out how 500 large and small physician groups performed on a number of measures, such as breast cancer screening, the frequency depression is treated with medication, and diabetes tests.

The state has its own place for patients to check up on doctors. The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine lists on its website, massmedboard.org, each doctor licensed to practice in the state, along with information about training, clinical affiliations, and any criminal convictions, disciplinary actions, or malpractice damages.

Ronan cautioned that patients should not read too much into dry facts and figures online.

''It's a start, but I'm not sure if that tells you if that's the right doctor for you," Ronan said. ''You don't have to have a doctor go to Harvard Medical School to be a great doctor."

The work is not over once a patient finds a doctor to visit.

Arm yourself with lots of questions. If you can't get answers, it's OK to take your doctor for a test drive. Go in for a new patient visit, which typically lasts about 45 minutes.

During this preliminary session, the patient's health is not the only issue on the table, said Ronan. He recommends that the patients abandon any shyness. ''Establishing the personal relationship is as important as the technical relationship," said Ronan. ''My job is to help you."

A common frustration for patients is they cannot contact their doctor. Ronan suggests asking doctors how available they are to answer phone calls and e-mails. The patient needs to find out how to contact the doctor or staff in emergencies.

If the doctor is out of the office or on vacation, which doctor provides coverage? A patient may prefer a practice where the covering doctor is in the same office, not 30 miles away, Ronan said.

Another issue is the level of electronic medical records in the doctor's office. Computers allow physicians to view lab reports, coordinate care with specialists and hospitals, and reduce errors.

''It's becoming crucial," Ronan said. ''It's important that your primary care physician is at least moving toward a computer record."

Patients should also ask where they will be sent if they require hospitalization, said Dr. Dale Magee, a Shrewsbury gynecologist and vice president of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

''Community hospitals can be exceptionally good at the level of illness they are prepared to treat, and they may be quieter and have a more restful atmosphere," he said. ''The tertiary centers are very good at the advanced things they do, but it does not necessarily follow that you will get equally good care down the line."

Ronan suggested another question regarding hospitalization: Who will care for the admitted patient -- the primary physician or a hospital doctor hired to make rounds? Some patients may be more comfortable seeing their primary care doctor at the hospital.

''It's a very sophisticated and complex system," Ronan said, adding that patients need a navigator. ''It should all be laid out for you."

Christopher Rowland can be reached at crowland@globe.com.