How to read your doctor’s profile

A short, practical guide to what the numbers on a profile page actually tell you.

Six things, in order of how much they matter.

1. Read the sentence, not the number

The line under the total says what kind of money it is. That sentence carries more information than the dollar figure above it.

2. Divide the total by the payment count

It is on the page. An average under $30 means meals. An average in the thousands means professional services. This single division tells you more than any other operation on the data.

3. Check the category table

Scroll to “What kind of money”. Look for consulting, speaking, royalty and ownership lines. Those are the relationships worth understanding.

4. Look at who paid, not just how much

One company at 80% of the total is a relationship. Twenty companies at 5% each is a busy clinic that reps visit.

5. Check the year chart

A single spike usually means one event — an advisory board, a trial, a licensing deal. A flat line across seven years means an ongoing arrangement.

6. Remember what it cannot tell you

It cannot tell you whether your treatment was appropriate. It cannot tell you whether your doctor is good. It tells you about disclosed financial relationships, which is one input among many.