Considerations When Finding an Orthopedic Surgeon

Orthopedics primarily focuses on disorders of the joints, bones, tendons, muscles, and nerves. Orthopedic surgery may be a treatment option for debilitating pain. While choosing an orthopedic surgeon may be difficult, a few helpful tips can simplify the process.

Nearly all insurance plans cover specific hospitals and providers. Find out which orthopedic surgeons your insurance plan covers because choosing a doctor outside your plan will prompt out-of-pocket costs. Some plans may require you to get a referral from your primary doctor if you want to seek the services of an orthopedic specialist.

Talk to your primary healthcare provider; they can offer information and recommendations. If, for example, you need surgery for your back or neck, your physician can recommend orthopedic spinal surgeons or hospitals. Family members and friends can also suggest surgeons based on their experiences.

You can find an orthopedic surgeon’s medical school, residency hospital, certifications, and disciplinary or malpractice history online. When you have a list of recommendations, look into the surgeons’ academic backgrounds, training, experience, and skills. Confirm that the surgeons under consideration have no history of disciplinary actions or malpractice claims.

However, because the field of orthopedic surgery is evolving and developing, look beyond the basic academic qualifications in your search for an orthopedic surgeon. Consider a surgeon with membership in professional and industry groups by asking to see their membership credentials. Inquire about the physician’s membership in professional associations such as the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, American Osteopathic Association, and other societies.

Although orthopedic surgeons gain valuable experience from surgery, they also expand their knowledge and skills through continued education. Does the surgeon invest in continuing education? Consider hiring a surgeon who incorporates new technologies, new surgical devices, and current surgical approaches into their practice. Seek to know if the surgeon has attended any update courses since they began practicing or over the past year or two.

If the hospital is also a concern, study its success rate. For example, medicare.gov/care-compare is a search tool developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that captures detailed data on US hospitals. Additionally, consider the location of the hospital. For example, after an orthopedic procedure, you need to make frequent follow-up visits to the clinic for rehabilitation or in case of complications. Consider a convenient location that is easily accessible.

Multiple positive reviews often indicate that an orthopedic surgeon may be the right choice. Reviews offer a good sense of a doctor’s skills, personal approach, and clinical environment. If the surgeon is skilled and adheres to high professional standards, such attributes often appear clearly in client reviews.

Doctors are becoming more aware of gender attitudes and differences in sex when treating orthopedic patients. Therefore, orthopedic training programs are becoming more gender specific. Ask the surgeon about their experience with your gender or condition.

Once you have a shortlist of potential surgeons, schedule consultations with each of them. Nothing compares to meeting the orthopedic surgeon in person, watching the clinic staff, their communication style, and the facility itself. A face-to-face chat is also an opportunity to ask any lingering questions or gain clarifications.

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