According to a recent survey,

respondents considered the following to be the most important characteristics in the healthcare professional who they see for their main medical needs: • ‘knowledgeable’ (37%) • ‘up to date when it comes to the latest medical advances and treatments’ (29%) • ‘experienced’ (27%) • ‘someone you can trust ( 27%) Source: "Americans Prefer Physicians for their Medical Care," Ipsos Press Release, December 18, 2103, http://ipsos-na.com/news-polls/pressrelease.aspx?id=6361