By Kevin Davis

Choosing a doctor can be one of the most important decisions of your life, yet many people don't treat it as such. Although managed health care plans may limit your selection, you can still make the best choice for your particular needs with just a little research.

For instance, go online and in a few minutes, you can learn where your prospective or current caregiver received his or her education, medical and residency training, and professional affiliations. The American Medical Association's free directory lists more than 650,000 licensed doctors in the United States at www.ama-assn.org/aps/amahg.htm. Or make a phone call, and you can learn if they're even licensed to practice medicine. Don't laugh: Some doctors had their licenses revoked for disciplinary reasons; some are still in training; and a small number of unscrupulous practitioners never applied. Each state has a licensing board where you can check the status of a license and learn of disciplinary actions. For the number of the state licensing board in your area, call the Federation of State Medical Boards at (817) 868-4000, or visit them at www.fsmb.org.

Once you have a good idea which doctor you are considering, it's time to start asking questions. Many people ask, "Where did you go to medical school?" But a better question might be, "Where did you do your residency training?"

"Look for those trained at busy hospitals, which indicates they may have gained more practical experience and more exposure to a larger number and variety of cases," suggests Stephen H. Miller, M.D., M.P.H., executive vice president of the American Board of Medical Specialties. "Teaching hospitals may also offer medical students more practical experience. And doctors agree that experience counts."

Also find out how long it typically takes to get an appointment and under what circumstances the doctor will see you on the same day. If you have to wait more than a month, you might want to consider another office that has a more reasonable waiting time, say experts.

"I think it's worth the cost of a visit or consultation, which may be paid for by insurance, to go in and really look and try to find out what you like and what you don't," says William G. Plested III, M.D., a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon in Santa Monica, Calif. "Look at the office, see if they have a friendly staff. Are they the type of people you can trust? Do they seem to respect you? Is the doctor friendly or aloof? Are you comfortable?"