Things to Consider When Choosing a Cardiac Surgeon
Whether an individual leads a sedentary or active lifestyle, the heart is an organ that never stops beating. The human heart performs various vital bodily functions, from supplying oxygen and nutrients to different body parts to expelling unwanted carbon dioxide and waste products. A cardiac surgeon provides surgical interventions for several heart diseases, helping patients with heart issues lead fruitful lives. Here are some things to consider while selecting a heart surgeon.
Verify the cardiac surgeon’s credentials
The primary step to choosing a cardiac surgeon is to verify their credentials, including professional qualifications, license, and experience in the field. An effective way to verify such details is through the Federation of Medical Boards’ website. The platform allows one to check doctors’ information via its DocInfo.org search function. This feature also provides information on any actions taken against the doctor. One should proceed with a cardiac surgeon only after verifying these critical details.
Check the quality of the hospital
Another essential aspect that patients should check while shortlisting a cardiac surgeon is the quality of the hospital they own or where they work. Regardless of the cardiac surgeon’s proficiency, their work can be restricted if the hospital’s infrastructure is inadequate. Thus, it is important to consider whether the hospital incorporates cutting-edge technology to perform surgical interventions; whether or not it is well-equipped with other staff members like nurses and caregivers; and whether it is an accredited healthcare center.
Have an open conversation with the cardiac surgeon
In addition to ensuring that the cardiac surgeon is qualified and experienced, it is imperative to consider whether they can implement these learnings and develop solutions to specific issues. Having an open one-on-one conversation with cardiac surgeons is an effective way to evaluate the cardiac surgeon’s presence of mind and efficiency. Therefore, it is advisable to ask questions to cardiac surgeons to evaluate whether they are open to communication and inclined toward solving patients’ heart-related issues.
Check online reviews of the surgeon and the hospital
Online reviews can help individuals understand other patients’ experiences with the cardiac surgeon and the hospital where their surgery was performed. Hence, it is essential to browse online reviews from different websites before finalizing the cardiac surgeon and hospital.
Moreover, top-rated cardiac surgeons must also have positive word-of-mouth, which one can determine by asking around family members and friends.
Ask the family doctor for a referral
Although family doctors may not be heart specialists, they usually will have the contact information of specialists in different healthcare practices owing to their close interactions with healthcare professionals. Therefore, one of the safest ways to find a reliable cardiac surgeon is through one’s family doctor.
Understand what is covered by your insurance
A health insurance plan plays an indispensable role in facilitating financial stability in the event of healthcare-related emergencies. Thus, one should opt for cardiac surgeons or hospitals within the purview of one’s insurance policy.
Check the treatment cost vis-a-vis other factors
The cost of treatment is a crucial aspect to consider for any heart-related procedure. However, it is essential to find a cardiac surgeon who strikes a balance between treatment costs and other factors like proficiency, experience, and knowledge. It helps to research different cardiac surgeons, their expertise, and the prices charged by each, and make an informed decision accordingly.
Discuss with the surgeon about the surgical team
A surgeon can never be a one-person army – it requires several professionals to work together as a comprehensive unit. Therefore, even if a heart surgeon is skilled and experienced, the proficiency of the rest of the team should also be considered. One must enquire with the surgeon beforehand about the surgical team working alongside the doctor for one’s procedure. This team typically includes nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, anesthesiologists, and referring cardiologists. Gauging their expertise and credentials helps ensure the procedure is successful.
Enquire about post-operative care
The surgical procedure is only one aspect – albeit a major one – of a heart intervention. Post-operative care is crucial to ensure steady recovery, check for complications, and understand future steps. Besides, the body requires proper rest after cardiac surgery. The hospital at which the cardiac surgeon shall perform the surgery must have adequate post-operative care facilities, with staff members like nurses being well-informed about how the patient should be cared for.
While looking for top cardiothoracic surgeons, it is important to check various aspects and avoid jumping the gun. Here’s a list of the top 10 heart surgeons in the world:
- Dr. Valluvan Jeevanandam- MD, UChicago Medicine
- Dr. William W O’Neill- MD, Center for Structural Heart Disease, Henry Ford Health System
- Dr. Franco Ciulli- Clinical Director, Bristol Heart Institute
- Kulvinder Lall- Currently practicing at the London Bridge Hospital, UK.
- Dr. Josep Brugada- Director, Pediatric Arrhythmias Unit, Sant Joan de Deu Hospital, and senior consultant, Centro Medico Teknon Hospital, Spain
- Dr. Gideon Cohen- Leading cardiac surgeon practicing at various hospitals in Canada
- Prof. Rob Kinsley- Founding member of the World Society of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery and Chairman of the Children’s Cardiac Foundation of Africa
- Dr. Ahmet Ozkara- An expert in robotic heart surgery and among the most famous heart surgeons in Turkey
- Dr. Gadi Keren- A leading cardiologist practicing at Ichilov Hospital, Israel
- Dr. Raúl F. Abella – Head of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona