How do you find specialist in your area?

I do not even know how to begin this post...as you know my mother has had her share of back problems this past year.  Last August she underwent not one but two Vertebroplasties.  Here is a link if you do not know what that is http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/back-surgery/vertebroplasty-procedure

The neurosurgeon that performed the surgery was not to our liking.  Apart from the first surgery where she experienced a few pain free days, the pain came back even worst.  A second vertebroplasty was performed within three weeks of the first.

This time a month passed and more pain.  He wanted to perform a third surgery but mother decided to see if it would heal on its own as it was torture having to make the trip to San Angelo and back and the relieve was short lived.  He was not happy with her decision.

There was a long list of events that lead us to question his competency and that of his staff.  It is all documented in this blog and I will not bore you with the details again. This doctor was like a cowboy herding cattle. To make a long story short we are no longer seeing him.  The Uvalde doctor mother is currently seeing said he would find her a physician who could help her...I took him at his word.

Last week mother was in severe pain and I called his office on Friday.  He called us at home on Saturday morning.  When I asked him if he had found a doctor for her...he seemed oblivious to the fact that he had said he would do so.

I am aware that he has a lot of patients and finding a doctor for mother is not his job but why did he say he would and then forgot about it?  Does he not read his notes?  Does his nurse not read his notes?

I thought perhaps I would be hearing from his office Monday or Tuesday but the call never came.  I do not know whether to call them again or find a neurosurgeon in the San Antonio area myself.

My question is how do you all go about looking for a doctor?  Referral from friends or your personal physician?  The Internet?  If the Internet what sites do you use?  Angie's list?  I do not want to make a mistake and end up with a doctor the likes of the one in San Angelo!

Please feel free to chime in, I welcome all comments.  Thanks in advance.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.