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Tips on Choosing the Best Hand Surgeon for You
If you have a hand, finger, wrist, or elbow orthopedic condition or injury, you will need to locate an Omaha orthopedic hand surgeon to provide expert care including appropriate evaluation and treatment options. An orthopedic hand surgeon (also known as a hand doctor or a hand specialist) has the orthopedic specialty training to evaluate and diagnose upper extremity issues that range from acute injuries to chronic injuries and provide comprehensive care for orthopaedic conditions such as:
The right hand surgeon is the one who is not only technically competent, knowledgeable, and experienced in providing orthopedic care, but also has the personality and bedside manner that suits your needs. The patient-surgeon relationship is essential for recovery, and you need to feel completely comfortable with your hand surgeon before undergoing any procedure.
When it comes to selecting a doctor—and specifically a hand surgeon—most people start by asking friends and family for a referral. If you have a family member or a friend who is a health care provider, you should ask them for any information on hand surgeons in your community.
More and more patients have to choose their hand surgeon from a health plan or insurance list of preferred providers, which usually narrows the list of hand surgeons to a few names. Your primary care doctor will likely prefer referring you to one of those hand surgeons.
- sports injuries
- broken bones (broken hand and fingers, broken wrist, and broken elbow)
- soft tissue injuries
- joint pain (hand pain, wrist pain, elbow pain, arm pain, and chronic pain due to arthritis)
- decreased range of motion
The right hand surgeon is the one who is not only technically competent, knowledgeable, and experienced in providing orthopedic care, but also has the personality and bedside manner that suits your needs. The patient-surgeon relationship is essential for recovery, and you need to feel completely comfortable with your hand surgeon before undergoing any procedure.
When it comes to selecting a doctor—and specifically a hand surgeon—most people start by asking friends and family for a referral. If you have a family member or a friend who is a health care provider, you should ask them for any information on hand surgeons in your community.
More and more patients have to choose their hand surgeon from a health plan or insurance list of preferred providers, which usually narrows the list of hand surgeons to a few names. Your primary care doctor will likely prefer referring you to one of those hand surgeons.
Hand Surgeon Websites and Online Reviews
Due to a growing demand for more reliable information than the basic professional details available online, there is an increasing trend for physicians to create a website like this one where you can find medical information on hand and wrist conditions and their treatment solutions. It would help if you looked for hand surgeons' websites that will provide you with hand surgeon–approved educational materials on musculoskeletal conditions and give you a "feeling" for the doctor's personality, practice, and level of accessibility.
Most people do not buy a new household appliance without checking consumer ratings. You can do the same with doctors, but here's a word of caution.
Physician rating websites such as HealthGrades, Vitals, and RateMDs are unreliable. One unhappy patient can make many negative comments about a physician, using a different name and, in this way, negatively impact the doctor's good reputation. On the other hand, physicians could use a different user name to give themselves glowing comments about their practice.
Most people do not buy a new household appliance without checking consumer ratings. You can do the same with doctors, but here's a word of caution.
Physician rating websites such as HealthGrades, Vitals, and RateMDs are unreliable. One unhappy patient can make many negative comments about a physician, using a different name and, in this way, negatively impact the doctor's good reputation. On the other hand, physicians could use a different user name to give themselves glowing comments about their practice.
Hand Surgeon Subspecialty Board Certification
It is often assumed that hand specialists are orthopedic surgeons who, in addition to five years of orthopedic surgery training, have completed one to two years of hand surgery fellowship training. However, plastic surgeons or general surgeons can complete additional training in hand surgery to practice hand surgery (but not elbow surgery). Depending on your comfort level and needs, you may want to inquire about your hand specialist's residency training.
At a minimum, you should check with your state medical board that the surgeon has a medical degree, a valid license to practice, and has not faced any disciplinary actions.
You will want to choose a hand specialist who is board certified. In addition to orthopedic, plastic, or general board certification, look for the hand specialist who has passed a rigorous board certifying examination in the subspecialty of hand surgery.
At a minimum, you should check with your state medical board that the surgeon has a medical degree, a valid license to practice, and has not faced any disciplinary actions.
You will want to choose a hand specialist who is board certified. In addition to orthopedic, plastic, or general board certification, look for the hand specialist who has passed a rigorous board certifying examination in the subspecialty of hand surgery.
Hand Surgeon's Experience
For most patients, the two most important reasons for choosing a surgeon for orthopedic care are experience and bedside manner. Older hand surgeons will have more experience; however, the younger hand surgeons may be on top of surgical advances and more open to using new surgical techniques. Both can equally be excellent surgeons. That decision is up to you.
Hand Surgeon's Personality
If your initial visit with your hand surgeon does not go well or as you planned it, it does not mean that he is a bad doctor or that you are a bad patient. It is more likely that your personalities don't work well together. In addition, don't be afraid to ask your hand surgeon to recommend another surgeon for a second opinion. Keep in mind that there can be multiple solutions to the same problem, which may place you in a position of looking for a third opinion.
Once you've done your homework to find a hand surgeon (asking friends and family, consulting your primary care physician, and reviewing your health insurer's provider list), make a get-acquainted appointment with the hand specialist you prefer.
Bring any vital medical records with you, and be prepared to ask questions. Discuss your hand condition. Expect the hand surgeon to examine you, perhaps take x-rays, and then lay out your options. I prefer to draw pictures for my patients because it helps them visualize and understand the condition and the upcoming procedure.
If you feel confident in your hand surgeon's ability to provide expert care, you can make a treatment plan together. If you don't feel comfortable or if the visit didn't answer your concerns, then you may want to meet with another hand surgeon on your list.
Trust your instincts and be actively in charge of your health.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail me at [email protected].
Once you've done your homework to find a hand surgeon (asking friends and family, consulting your primary care physician, and reviewing your health insurer's provider list), make a get-acquainted appointment with the hand specialist you prefer.
Bring any vital medical records with you, and be prepared to ask questions. Discuss your hand condition. Expect the hand surgeon to examine you, perhaps take x-rays, and then lay out your options. I prefer to draw pictures for my patients because it helps them visualize and understand the condition and the upcoming procedure.
If you feel confident in your hand surgeon's ability to provide expert care, you can make a treatment plan together. If you don't feel comfortable or if the visit didn't answer your concerns, then you may want to meet with another hand surgeon on your list.
Trust your instincts and be actively in charge of your health.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail me at [email protected].
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