How to Make Sure You Choose the Right Surgeon: 6 Expert Tips
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When you're being told that you need surgery, it can be one of the scariest news in the world to hear (depending on the severity of your situation, of course). Now, if your surgery is not that urgent, then it means that you have enough time to pick a surgeon.
Since surgeries are generally very complex, and can oftentimes be very risky, you do not want just about anyone to do it. At the end of the day, it needs to be someone who isn’t only professional, but trustworthy too.
If this is your first time having surgery, and you would like to know which factors you should take into consideration so you can make a well-informed decision, then just pay attention to this advice below.
Do You Really Need One?
When a healthcare provider tells you that you need surgery, you'll immediately think that that's your only option and choice, however, sometimes, you can successfully combat a particular medical condition without it.
For example, if you continuously have issues with gallbladder stones, then it would practically be mandatory to have your gallbladder removed, which means that surgery must be done. On the other hand, there are a plethora of medical problems that can be solved without it.
And then, in some instances, surgery won’t suffice, meaning that you’ll need to combine it with other procedures. Whatever your current situation may be, it’s essential to carefully think things through before you say yes to it.
Are They Experienced Enough?
As concluded previously, many surgeries (most of them, in fact) can be extremely complex, which means that it’s pivotal to have a surgeon who has a plethora of experience with the type of issue you have.
So how will you be able to determine that? According to Dr Anvar, you need to check to see if they have the right qualifications, certifications, and training to execute everything properly. Aside from that, you need to know how many years of experience they have in practice, and how frequently they deal with this kind of procedure. Is that all?
No. There's another thing that people often overlook, which is another essential factor that cannot be ignored. Namely, you need to know if your potential surgeon isn't only board-certified, but has also completed a subspecialty certification examination.
In addition, lots of subspecialties have their own societies and organizations that demand peer recommendations and peer review, otherwise, you won’t be allowed to become a member, so make sure to check that out as well!
Make Use Of The Internet
If you do not know any surgeon or there’s no one who can provide you with a referral, then it’s time to consult the internet because it can help you hunt down a surgeon in your vicinity. If you want your search to be effective, then you must add keywords that are related to the body part that’s going to be operated.
Besides that, you must include the region you reside in too. For instance, you can type something like this “Best Hip Surgeon in California”, or “Top Orthopedic Surgeons in Atlanta”. These are just examples to show you how your research is supposed to look like.
Once you enter these keywords, your browser is going to show you a bunch of different suggestions in regard to this and you’ll come across various online reviews and comments about a particular surgeon.
Make sure to go through all of them (or at least most) to determine if a specific surgeon is professional, experienced, and reliable enough.
Don’t Forget To Check The Hospital
Although it’s important to determine if the surgeon who’s going to perform your surgery is right for you, you also need to take the hospital (or any other facility where the surgery will take place) into consideration.
Why does this matter so much? Namely, if they work in an eminent and reputable facility that works with high-quality equipment and tools, then your chances of a positive outcome are going to be drastically increased.
When assessing a particular surgeon, you need to take into account the place they perform surgeries, and if the hospital they work from is accredited by eminent institutions. Speaking of hospitals, you should take into consideration the facility’s reputation regarding the area of surgery you’ll be needing.
Certain hospitals are renowned for having excellent cardiologists, neurologists, etc. If the surgeon who piqued your interest works at a reputable hospital, then it means that they will probably work only with cutting-edge tools and resources.
Time For The Interview
If you researched various surgeons, then it most likely means that a couple of them “have made the list”, which means that it’s time to conduct interviews with them. For starters, you need to make appointments with these professionals and then make sure to ask them all the relevant questions, such as the ones that are related to their experience, the type of techniques they normally resort to, and other similar questions.
Another thing that would be advisable to ask is how much time it’s going to take to fully recover. Even though no one can predict that (at least not exactly), they can always give you an estimated time.
How Comfortable Are You With This Person?
It doesn't matter whether you'll be conducting interviews with surgeons over the phone or in person, the reality is that in both instances, you'll be able to easily determine whether that professional makes you feel comfortable or not.
Are they willing to answer all your questions and address all your concerns? Do they put you at ease? Do you feel as if that person truly has your best interest at heart? Do you feel safe "in their hands", or not?
The questions that were mentioned above will give you a glimpse of the treatment you’ll receive from that person, before, during, and after the surgery.
