News and briefs: Consumer Reports to rate Mass. physicians

Massachusetts subscribers of Consumer Reports will get more than just the usual rating on cars and household items in the next issue of the magazine. With it will come a 25-page insert rating 500 adult, family, and pediatric physician practices located in Massachusetts.

According to an article on www.boston.com, the rating system will follow the same format Consumer Reports uses for all of its reviews. The magazine used more than 64,000 patient surveys issued by Massachusetts Health Quality Partner to rate how well physicians know their patients, how well they communicate with them, and how well they coordinate patients’ medical care.

The magazine hopes to provide ratings for physician practices in Minnesota and Wisconsin over the next year. To read more, click here.