How To Choose A Shoulder Surgeon

Choosing a good orthopedic doctor for a critical area such as the upper shoulder region can be quite a daunting task. There can be many things going on in your mind, but it comes down to your personal preference and budget. Here are some tips that can help you narrow down your search.

Experience Comes First

When it comes to medical healthcare, the more experienced and knowledgeable a doctor is, the higher are your chances of having an overall good outcome. Before you finally say yes to a procedure, take your time to ask the doctor about how many of these procedures has he/she supervised? How was the outcome of the patients who underwent the surgical procedure? What were the complications he/she most frequently encountered and what are the chances of you developing those risks?

Go Through Your Referrals

When seeking a well reputed competent doctor, do not be hesitant in asking for referrals. For starters, you can always ask your primary care physician for a list of some of the best orthopedic surgeons to consult with. Friends and family members’ opinions and recommendations can also prove to be very helpful in this regard.

Apart from this, the internet is full of a variety of websites that provide the credentials and experience of the doctor according to their subspecialty. What we recommend is to narrow down a list of consultants and schedule an appointment for gaining that firsthand experience.

Cross Check Their Credentials And Board Certifications

Board certification and affiliation is an important factor to consider before narrowing down your options. A certification tells you about the doctor’s educational background, training experience and his competency in the field of orthopedic care. You can also confirm whether the doctor has not been a part of any malpractice, patient negligence or violation of code of conduct.

Review Patient Satisfaction Surveys

Getting to know about the orthopedic approach and management skills about a surgeon through his/her previously treated patients can potentially provide firsthand knowledge about the credibility of a doctor. Patient satisfaction survey are an excellent way of getting to know how much time the doctor spends on each patient, how does the doctor communicate with the patient and answers their queries, what was the waiting time during appointments and other hospital related queries, which is why a patient survey can provide vital information on choosing the right doctor.

Consider Gender

It is important for patients to feel comfortable and open with their physician’s gender, as the physician needs to ask a few personal questions before evaluating the condition. For intimate regions such as the hip and shoulder regions, patients and doctors alike are aware of the certain sexual and anatomical implications that come with gender differences, which is why many orthopedic programs are now introducing surgeon’s specific to gender. We do advise a thorough research and background check if you decide to go through this approach as options do get limited.

Research The Hospital Quality

A doctor cannot perform any procedures or medical assistance without the supervision of his team. It is important to note that your doctor’s hospital is your primary healthcare facility now. We advise that you do your own thorough research regarding the credibility and quality of the health care facility that you decide to go for. Well reputed hospitals, albeit expensive, are associated with better patient care and subsequently better surgical outcomes.

Another important aspect to consider is the location of the hospital. Frequent follow up visits, physical therapy sessions and rehabilitative appointments make it imperative to select a location for shoulder surgery that is favorable for commuting multiple times till full recovery.

Check Your Insurance Coverage And Costs Involved

Looking into your insurance coverage plan is a matter of practicality. Sometimes it is wise to let go of other options and simply opt for a surgeon that is covered in your plan, to avoid unforeseen costs going out of your pocket that can be a financial burden later on. We still advise looking for a well reputed credible orthopedic surgeon that is covered in your primary insurance plan.

We hope that these tips help you find the best shoulder surgeon Woodbridge suitable to your condition… after all you deserve nothing but the best.