The selection process for Top3Doctors is a multi-step process designed to identify healthcare providers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Top3Doctors is a selective yet diverse listing of outstanding doctors, representing consumer-oriented medical specialties.

Survey of Doctors

First, we create a pool of candidates. Each year, Top3Doctors invites doctors to nominate colleagues they know to be exceptional in their specified field. They are asked to consider the following question: “If you needed medical care in one of the following specialties, which doctor would you choose?” Numerous safeguards are in place to prevent ballot manipulation and doctors may not self-nominate.

Candidate Search

Our research staff also contributes to the pool of candidates by searching medical databases, online sources, and publications for providers who have attained certain credentials, honors or professional achievements – what we term ‘Star Search Credentials.’ This process also includes doctors in less visible or highly specialized medical treatment areas.

Research

We evaluate candidates on 10 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement:

1. Years of experience
2. Board certifications
3. Fellowships
4. Professional activities
5. Academic achievements
6. Patient Reviews
7. Honors and awards
8. Other outstanding achievements
9. Hospital appointments
10. Leadership positions

Top3 Panel Review

Nominees are then grouped into specialties and their locations. Doctors, in each area, who have the highest scores from the nomination and evaluation steps are invited to serve on a “Top3 panel.” Each panelist is asked to review and evaluate a list of nominees from his/her area of focus.

The Final Selection

The last step is to total the points received from nominations, research, and Top3 panel review. Only the highest-scoring doctors are included on the Top3Doctors list. The Top3Doctors list represents approximately 5% of the doctors within the respective state or region.

Before Publishing

Each candidate is contacted to verify the doctor’s professional information. The research staff independently review the discipline record of each candidate before publication and verifies that the doctor is active and in good standing.