Tap Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 I need to have hip surgery. I live in a large city (Portland Oregon) and have a lot of options for surgeons. How do I research and figure out which doctor to choose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 1. pick someone who is Board Certified...and that your insurance will cover! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffeegal Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Ask your doctor and anyone you know in the medical field who they would recommend. Also, ask anyone you know who's had your surgery or one that is similar for recommendations. Best of luck!:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyinNNV Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Talk to a doctor you trust. Get their recommendation. (Anesthesiologists know a lot about surgeons.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy in MD Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 My neighbor asks the nurses. They typically have more time with the patients to observe minor things and get a lot of minor gripes the doctors don't hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJB Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 Word of mouth is a good way to narrow down the field, but when you get to a handful of capable people experience is the best predictor of good outcomes. Ask the surgeons how many times they've preformed your specific surgery and if they've ever had any negative outcomes. Interview them a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 If you have to wait a long time to get an appt, he or she is probably a pretty good doctor, ime. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plain jane Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 I posted on your other thread, but this may be a helpful site for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katemary63 Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 (edited) You know what I did? I lived in the Chicago area when I found out I would need hip surgery at the age of 29. I called the Chicago White Sox baseball team and asked them who did Bo Jackson's surgery. :D They told me! and I went to see him. ( Bo Jackson was a superstar athlete who had a total hip replacement and came back to play pro-ball.) So, even just calling a major sports team in your area and finding out who their ortho is would be a good start. You KNOW they have the best of the best. It worked for me. Anyway, because, at that time, I didn't need a total hip replacement, I did not end up with that surgeon. But, years later, at the age of 39, I DID need my hip replaced and that surgeon was unavailable. So, I checked out the Chicago Tribune archives for articles and it turns out they had done a story on the best doctors in each discipline in the city. The best of the best were chosed BY the other doctors. That is how I chose Dr. James Kudrna in Glenview, IL. He was voted best hip replacement surgeon in all of Cook County, IL by all the hip replacement surgeons in Cook County, IL! Maybe your newpaper has done a story like this. You could check the archives or even call the paper and ask a reporter. Kudrna turned out to be a magician! I've had my new hip for 7 years now and it is a miracle! I even ride horses! Good luck and God bless! Edited May 21, 2009 by katemary63 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 1. pick someone who is Board Certified...and that your insurance will cover! :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted May 21, 2009 Author Share Posted May 21, 2009 Thanks everyone! I have tentatively picked a doctor. I have put the word out to friends, asking for testimonials from nurses, doctors and patients. Hopefully someone will know something about this doc! He is part of a large practice of specialized doctors, including many orthopedic surgeons. The practice is highly regarded and the surgeons are known to be great. They have several orthopedic doctors who are team doctors for different sports teams in the area, but these doctors each specialize in different areas other than the hip. He is the hip specialist, and while I can't find Any bad information on the Internet in all of the sources I have checked...I can't find any raves either...just nothing. I figure he may have been in another state for a while so once I have the consultation with him, I can ask that question and do some more detailed research. Thanks for all the great ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.