America ‘s Top Physician: Stuart H. Kaplan, M.D., Dermatology

The Consumers’ Research Council of America has compiled a list of Physicians throughout the United States by utilizing a point value system. This method uses a point value for criteria that we deemed valuable in determining top health care professionals. No fees, donations, sponsorships or advertising are accepted from any individuals, professionals, corporations or associations. This policy is strictly adhered to ensure an unbiased selection.

The 4 criteria that was used and assessed a point value is as follows:

Experience Each year the Physician has been in practice

Training Education and Continuing Education

Professional Associations Membership in Professional Medical Associations

Board Certification Completing an approved residency program and passing a rigid examination on that specialty

Simply put, Physicians that have accumulated a certain amount of points qualified for the list. This does not mean that doctors that did not accumulate enough points are not good Physicians, they merely did not qualify for this list because of the points needed for qualification.

Similar studies have been done with other professions using a survey system. This type of study would ask fellow professionals who they would recommend. We found this method to be more of a popularity contest. For instance, professionals who work in a large office have much more of a chance of being mentioned as opposed to a professional who has a small private practice. In addition, many professionals have a financial arrangement for back-and-forth referrals. For these reasons, we developed the point value system.

We feel that a point value system takes out the personal and emotional factor and deals with factual criteria. We have made certain assumptions. For example, we feel that the more years in practice is better than less years in practice; more education is better than less education, being board certified is better than not being certified, etc.

Please visit the Consumers’ Research Council of America at www.consumersresearchcncl.org