Short Answer
Accessibility and language compatibility are more important than high online ratings when choosing a German doctor.
A mediocre doctor within walking distance is more valuable than a "top-rated" specialist three train transfers away.
What Most Expats Don't Realize
You traveled across the city to see a highly-rated English-speaking doctor you found on a global expat forum. When you got a 40°C fever, you found it physically impossible to make the 45-minute commute for a required "Krankschreibung" (sick note). You lost €180 of your salary because you couldn't get the medical certificate in time from the distant "star" doctor.
What To Do
- Open Google Maps and search "Hausarzt" within a 1km radius of your apartment.
- Call the closest three clinics and ask if any doctors speak English or your native language.
- "Nehmen Sie derzeit neue Patienten an?" (Are you currently accepting new patients?) Ask this at the closest clinic to your front door.
The Truth
The system is decentralized and requires physical presence for documentation like sick notes. Proximity is the only metric that matters when you are too ill to navigate public transport.