It’s important to spend time to find the right surgeon for your heart surgery. After all, this is a major surgery and you don’t want just anyone! Here are 4 steps to follow when choosing a heart surgeon:
- Get cardiologist recommendations – since it’s probably your cardiologist who is recommending that you have heart surgery, let he/she be the first one to provide recommendations. Your cardiologist also knows your health history and the type of surgery you need, so will be able to recommend surgeons who are a good fit for you. When you ask, be sure to get names of surgeons both in town and out of town. You can make the decision later as to where you’ll go for your surgery.
- Consider insurance – based on the type of health insurance you have, there may be limitations as to certain surgeons and hospitals that you can use. If you have any questions, be sure to talk to an insurance representative before you choose a surgeon.
- Conduct research – get online to research potential surgeons on your list. Check out patient ratings, specialization in your type of surgery, education and employment background. See if you can find patient comments about bedside manner (if this is important to you) and any other comments that can help you make a decision. Also, review the ratings for the hospital(s) where your surgeon performs operations.
- Interview surgeons – once you’ve narrowed down your list, set up interviews with at least two surgeons. You can conduct these interviews in person or via telehealth. During the interview, be sure to ask how many times they have they performed your type of surgery, do they use alternative methods to open heart surgery, i.e. robotic, minimally invasive, what are some common complications with this type of surgery and can you talk to a previous patient? During an interview, you will be able to determine the surgeon’s personality and communication style, which may influence your decision.