While the task of finding a qualified doctor for knee replacement surgery might seem daunting, console yourself with the fact that the surgery has become more commonplace as baby boomers age. More people who have undergone the surgery will be able to share their experiences with you. There are resources to help you find a reputable orthopedic surgeon for your knee replacement surgery once you spread the word. There are also professional websites that will give you options.
Instructions
1. Ask your family doctor for a recommendation for an orthopedic specialist. Chances are good he will have made many referrals in the past and might be personally acquainted with the surgeon he recommends. If not, ask your family doctor for the best way to go about locating a reputable orthopedic surgeon. He might even be able to find former knee replacement surgery patients willing to share their stories with you who can advise you of their experiences and any concerns they might have had.
2. Call the medical society or association in your state. Ask it to refer you to a list of qualified doctors in your area. If you have already received a recommendation for a certain doctor, inquire into her record. Medical societies are responsible for licensing physicians within their state and verifying records. They also keep information about infractions, grievances and license revocations on file. While they might not recommend one specialist over another, they will know of any complaints or reprimands pending against physicians in your state. You'll find your state's medical society listed in the telephone book. You can also contact them online.
3. Call your local hospital to see which orthopedic surgeons have privileges there, since you will probably want a surgeon close to home. You might find someone who knows a person who had knee surgery recently and can recommend a surgeon or talk with you about their experiences. Once you have a recommendation, check out the physician with your state's licensing bureau or medical society.
4. Consult the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (see Resources). According to its mission statement, its goal is to "serve the profession, champion the interests of patients, and advance the highest quality musculoskeletal health." The website has the member status of its physicians and allows you to search by ZIP code, physician's name, city and state or country. The site also has links to physicians' websites.
5. Contact the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (see Resources). The website allows you to search for docots by ZIP code, name, city and state or country. There is also an information section for patients, including considerations prior to surgery, office visit tips and other patient links.
6. Call the offices of orthopedic surgeons whose names you find. If you have no other recommendation, talk with their office staff to see if you can speak with the doctor about your particular surgery. Ask where the surgeon attended medical school, how many years he has been in practice, which hospitals have allowed him admitting privileges, and whether he is published in any medical journals to give you a sense of his reputation. Sometimes physicians, especially those who are new to a given practice, will invite you to interview them so you have a chance to get to know them better. The interview will give you an opportunity to ask specific questions about your surgery.
7. Conduct a computer search of names of any surgeons you're considering. An Internet search can turn up any questionable issues or problems the surgeon has had in the past, giving you some insight into his medical background. Finding an objectionable information ahead of time gives you a chance to investigate before your own surgery.
8. Visit the medical library at a hospital in your area. All hospitals have medical libraries with librarians trained in finding medical information for physicians and patients. Ask the librarian if she can find information on surgeons who might have pioneered new techniques in knee replacement surgery. This will give you the advantage of being able to read about the latest techniques. The surgeon you ultimately choose for your surgery should be familiar with the most recent advances.
Tags: knee replacement surgery, replacement surgery, your state, knee replacement, medical society