Choosing the Right Surgeon for Your Shoulder Replacement

In the instance of a shoulder injury or when there is unexplained pain in the shoulder, an individual must pick the best shoulder surgeon to handle the case, either shoulder surgery or shoulder replacement. It is, therefore, essential to know the best criteria for selecting surgeons near the individual or elsewhere. So, how does one find out the best surgeon for them? The most relevant answer to this is through research. But this does not imply a simple online search; it is more intensive than that. While that online prompt might yield a hit with different listed surgeons, there are better ways to vet orthopedic surgeons and select the best in the list. So what does choosing the right surgeon entail?

What are the useful tips for finding the right shoulder surgeon?

It does not matter the region where the individual is searching; these tips will usually apply across the board. Among the crucial things to watch out for are:

• Is the surgeon board certified in orthopedic surgery, and are they specialists in shoulder replacement surgeries?
• Does the particular surgeon have experience in handling the particular problem the individual is experiencing?
• Is communicating with the surgeon seamless and easy
• Does the hospital or clinic where the surgeon operates have a high percentage of successful outcomes in orthopedic surgery and care?
• The insurance information of the facility
• Does the surgeon also come with a lot of referrals?

Ask around

To create a list of potential candidates for review, it is important to enquire from family and friends and even from other healthcare providers. It is important to resist going on the internet as the first thing, even though it might seem the easiest and quickest way. This is because the first-hand knowledge, experience, and opinions from people that are known and trusted by the individual can help in steering the individual’s research in the right direction. If there are no useful recommendations, the individual can then make use of the various online resources and apps that help in the search for the right surgeons. Some of them have a lot of information that may be useful in the patient’s search. Some of them come with patient satisfaction ratings, which go a long way in providing insight into what to expect from the particular surgeon. 

Conduct personal research on the surgeon’s credentials

It is important to make out time to deeply research the credentials of the doctor and their experience. As stated earlier, the doctor should at least be board certified in orthopedic surgery and regularly perform the particular type of procedure needed by the patient. The more experience the surgeon has in handling the patient’s particular problem, the better prepared they will be in anticipating and also preventing any complications that may arise from the procedure. It is also important to be sure that the surgeon has no malpractice in their records, and is in good standing with their state and federal agencies.

Conduct research on the clinic or the hospital that the surgeon operates from

This is another important aspect of choosing the right surgeon, this is because a surgeon does not work in isolation. An orthopedic procedure requires a network of highly skilled and experienced healthcare professionals. This is why it is important to review the level of care and the percentage of successful cases from that particular establishment where the surgeon practices. It is ideal to find hospitals or clinics near the patient that clocks a high patient review for the procedure required by said patient. Then find a particular surgeon in that hospital or clinic that ticks most if not all the boxes of preference of the patient. Avoid hospitals with very low ratings even if the surgeon has high reviews. If the surgeon can operate from another facility other than the low-ranked hospital, then the patient can go ahead; if not, they should consider another surgeon.

Determine the insurance benefit

Insurance coverage is a very practical matter. Choose a surgeon that can participate in the plan of the patient. This will enable them to receive the most insurance benefits while also paying the least amount from their pockets. It is, however, important to note that the fact that the surgeon participates in the insurance plan of the patient does not necessarily make them the right surgeon for their procedure. Evaluate the surgeon’s experience and expertise.

Questions to ask the surgeon

Consult physically with the surgeon after the patient has made their choice. Some of the questions to ask to determine if they are the right surgeon include:

• Questions about the patient’s issue – It is important to establish that the surgeon is a specialist in the area that is required by the patient. Many orthopedic surgeons specialize in one or more parts of the body, while others are more general in their practice. It is important to find a surgeon that specializes in the shoulder and performs procedures as often as possible. This can help especially in addressing all the questions that the patient might have during consultations, and also prevent and anticipate any complications that may arise during and after the surgery.
• Questions about the surgery – Since technology keeps changing, new methods of conducting surgery arise daily. Asking the surgeon questions about the invasiveness of the surgery is not out of place. The more minimal the invasiveness of surgery, the better the recovery period will be. Minimally invasive surgeries result in less post-operative swelling, less pain, improved recovery time, and less risk of complications than open techniques. 
• Questions about the different cases handled – The surgeon should be willing to discuss the cases that they have handled generally without disclosing the particulars of the case. They should be willing to answer questions honestly and fully without hiding any details. They should also be willing to discuss the risks that may be experienced in that particular surgery. 

The patient needs to get a second opinion, especially when looking for the best shoulder surgeon for their injury. It is perfectly fine to conduct extensive searches until they are satisfied with their choices.