Checking a clinic or practitioner before you book
A few checks before you book can tell you whether a clinic is licensed, whether the person treating you is qualified, and what you will pay.
Find the right register
Each profession has its own regulator. In the UK, doctors are on the General Medical Council register and dentists on the General Dental Council register. In the United States, physicians are licensed by state medical boards, and the Federation of State Medical Boards runs a free lookup called DocInfo. Search by the full name and check that the registration is current, with no conditions you would want to know about.
Check the clinic as well as the person
Clinics usually need their own licence or registration, separate from the staff. Look for the registration number on the website, then confirm it with the authority. Inspection reports, where they are published, describe safety and cleanliness in plain terms.
Ask about experience
Ask how often the practitioner performs the treatment you need and what their complication rate is. A good clinic expects these questions.
Get the price in writing
Ask for a written quote that lists consultation, treatment, medicines, tests and follow-up appointments. Ask what happens, and who pays, if extra treatment is needed.
Plan the aftercare
Find out who to call out of hours, how follow-up works and what happens if you have a complication after you have gone home or travelled.
Warning signs
- Pressure to book or pay on the day.
- A practitioner who will not give their full name or registration number.
- Prices that are far below others in the area with no explanation.
- Before-and-after photos with no information about who took them or when.