If you’ve got a surgery coming up, whether it’s one that you’ve been planning for months or something that’s come a little more recently, all of your thoughts are likely on how you can be best prepared for this event and recover as quickly as possible.
One big factor in this equation is the surgeon you trust you to do the surgery for you. In most cases, you’ll have some options and choices with whose hands you put your life in. So to help you make the best possible decision for you, here are three tips for finding the best doctor for your upcoming surgery.
Do Your Own Research
The first thing you’ll want to do to find the best doctor or surgeon is to conduct some of your own research. When doing this, you’ll want to keep an eye out for red flags. Some of these red flags could include things like bad online reviews or open lawsuits regarding medical malpractice with previous patients.
According to Linda Marsa, a contributor to AARP, some of the qualifications and credentials that you should look up online about a potential surgeon include confirmed state credentials, a confirmed surgical certification, and their complication rates. Once you’re satisfied with this basic information for your surgical candidates, you can move on to the next determination.
Find A Support Group To Speak To
If you’re having a very specialized surgery, you might not know anyone personally who you can ask for a doctor recommendation. In a situation such as this, you might benefit from joining an online support group for people who have had this type of surgery in the past and are still recovering.
When speaking to people in a support group, Jennifer Whitlock, a contributor to Very Well Health, recommends asking them for referrals. Additionally, you could also ask them about the logistics of the surgery and if they wish they’d done anything differently. This information can be invaluable as you prepare to go under the knife and choose the best doctor to be there with you.
Take Your First Visit Seriously
Once you’ve found a doctor or surgeon that you think you want to go with, make sure you take your initial visit with him or her very seriously. During this visit, you’ll be able to gain a lot of information that you might not have been able to glean in any other way,
Throughout this consultation or appointment, Elaine K. Howley, a contributor to U.S. News and World Report, advises that you take account of how you feel within the office and how you feel about the doctor. Also, come prepared with questions. If you don’t like the answers you’re given, you might want to keep looking for a different surgeon.
If you’re going to be having surgery soon, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you pick the best surgeon to work with.