Vitals.com, an online doctor evaluation service run by MDX Medical, has expanded its partnership with Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., which is known for its "Top Doctor" ratings. Vitals.com will incorporate the "Top Doctor" ratings into its website. It will lend its analytic tools to Castle Connolly's survey methodology to expand the "Top Doctor" ratings to more than 100 markets worldwide.
Vitals.com is now able to offer patients a source for empirical quality measures, independent doctor reviews, peer evaluations and patient feedback as they search for an appropriate doctor. Vitals.com has assembled a directory of more than 500,000 U.S. doctors in a free site by combining multiple databases with other information repositories, search and comparison technologies and a patient feedback mechanism.
Users can search the Vitals.com site to find a doctor based on a symptom or category of a specialist or they can conduct a search for their own current doctors' listings. The listings include content such as doctor background information (medical education and training), hospital affiliation, sanctions, volume of procedures, as well as consumer reviews and comments.
Castle Connelly publishes the America's Top Doctors guide and other Top Doctors guides. The company's national annual survey identifies top doctors based on peer nominations and research conducted by their physician-led research team. The doctors are then profiled in Castle Connelly publications.
Separate, these two entities seem to provide extremely comprehensive services to a consumer customer base that they share. Together, they have the potential to create even more robust offerings. Their collaboration will likely increase both organizations' profiles and help make them the go-to source for consumers seeking a complete look at potential physicians. It's definitely a smart move as consumers continue to take a very active role in their healthcare solutions.