PBCMMG's ranking methodology is published in full, applied uniformly across all physicians considered, and reviewed annually by our editorial team. We do not rank physicians based on payment, referral relationships, or commercial advertising.
For each ranking we publish (e.g., “Top 10 Concierge Physicians in Palm Beach County, 2026”), our editorial team builds a candidate pool drawn from public physician registries within the specified geography and specialty. Each candidate is scored against the criteria below using verifiable public data. Final rankings reflect the weighted score; ties are resolved by editorial review.
We publish the methodology so readers, peer physicians, and journalists can independently evaluate, replicate, or critique our work. We welcome corrections and methodology suggestions at info@pbcmmg.com.
Total of seven weighted criteria, summing to 100 percent. Same weights applied to every candidate in a given ranking.
Weight: 20%
Verified through the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS), and state medical board records. Board-certified specialists in the listed field receive full credit; subspecialty certifications add weight.
Weight: 20%
Google Places API reviews refreshed every 14 days, scored as Google rating × log-saturated review count (saturating at ~50 reviews). Cross-checked against Healthgrades, Vitals, and Zocdoc when available. Reviews flagged as fake by the source platform are excluded; we do not solicit, purchase, or coordinate reviews.
Weight: 15%
Drawn from National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES/NPI) enumeration date and state licensing records, capped at 30 years for full credit. Continuous active license is required — gaps trigger editorial review.
Weight: 15%
State medical board action history reviewed for the past ten years. Clean record = full 15 points; each substantiated action subtracts 5 points. Open investigations, suspensions, surrendered licenses, or substantiated complaints disqualify physicians from rankings; minor administrative actions are weighted contextually.
Weight: 10%
Active credentialing at accredited hospitals or systems, drawn from public hospital staff lists, NPPES, and state filings. One affiliation = 5 points; two or more = full 10. Teaching appointments at accredited medical schools count favorably.
Weight: 10%
ACGME-accredited fellowships, advanced certifications, and post-residency specialty training in the listed practice area. One fellowship = 5 points; two or more = full 10.
Weight: 10%
Active membership in specialty medical societies (AMA, AAFP, ACP, ASAM, etc.), peer-reviewed publications listed on PubMed/MEDLINE, and recognized awards from independent organizations. One membership = 5 points; two or more = full 10.
Total: 100% across seven criteria. Weights are held constant within a given ranking cycle. Material changes to weights are disclosed in the next published ranking and dated on this page.
Beyond the core 100, we apply practice-quality bonuses (up to +25), a malpractice penalty, and additional verification filters for select specialties. Final score is capped at 100.
Up to +10 pts
+10 points if the practice is NOT mid-level (PA/NP) heavy. Patients researching a specific physician deserve to see that physician — not be routed to a mid-level. Cross-checked against same-address NPI registrations and patient reviews. Practices flagged as mid-level heavy receive 0.
Up to +10 pts
Up to +10 points based on typical wait time. Same-day = 10, within-week = 5, within-month = 1, longer = 0. Sourced from review keywords, practice-site disclosures, and direct office calls. Closed-panel practices receive 0 here but can still rank highly on the core criteria.
Up to +5 pts
+1 per verified press mention (capped at +5). Counts only major-media interviews, expert citations, or peer-reviewed commentary. Self-published content, pay-to-play directories, and viral-only social mentions don't count.
-3 pts each (no floor below 0)
−3 points per closed paid claim within the last 10 years, in states that publish a Practitioner Profile (Florida, Massachusetts, Virginia, others). Note: a single claim does not equal poor care — context required, but the score reflects it.
We use only verifiable public records and aggregated public review data. Specifically:
Each ranking is reviewed and refreshed at least annually. Disciplinary-action and license-status data are checked at least quarterly; if a previously ranked physician's status changes materially (license suspension, surrender, or substantiated complaint), the ranking is updated within 30 days and the physician removed.
Each ranking page includes a “Last updated” date for transparency.
On each doctor profile we surface a few more signals that don't affect the score but help patients make an informed choice:
Solo, small group, large group, hospital-owned, private-equity-backed, or academic. PE-rollups and large corporate ownership often trade physician access for throughput; patients deserve to know.
Plans accepted, out-of-network policy, and typical cash-pay visit fees when published. Sourced from practice-site disclosures and direct office confirmation.
Whether the physician offers virtual visits, in-person only, or hybrid. Important for follow-up cadence and access.
Self-declared and cross-checked against NPPES taxonomy fields and practice-site staff bios.
PBCMMG's founder, Dr. Benjamin Soffer, is a practicing physician and may appear in some rankings on our site that cover his specialties and licensed geographies. When he is included or ranked, his eligibility and score are determined by the same published criteria applied to all candidates — he receives no editorial preference and is excluded from any editorial review or tie-break decision involving his own ranking.
Every ranking page on which Dr. Soffer appears displays a clear disclosure linking back to this policy and to our Editorial Standards.
We welcome corrections from physicians, patients, and peer journalists. Email info@pbcmmg.com with details and supporting documentation. Substantiated corrections are published with a dated correction notice on the affected ranking page.
Methodology last reviewed: April 2026.