Guest guest Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Hi Rich, What type of data would you propose members of this community could share about their surgeons other than " stories " ? Jeff ________________________________ From: Rich <rluxt@...> Joint Replacement Sent: Mon, March 28, 2011 11:56:11 AM Subject: Doctor assessments I am curious why the moderator(s) of this group do not set up a folder in the files area where writers can share experiences with various surgeons. I realize there are numerous surgeons around the country but asking for anecdotal opinions at times immediately before surgery or in its planning is hit or miss. Getting doctor data is almost impossible but there are websites for it such as ratemd.com but they focus on typically inane questions (wait time at office, demeanor, etc). The industry fights any pending laws to force doctors and hospitals to record outcomes and issues and submit them for reporting. There is an argument against such laws in that providers would avoid higher risk cases to be fair but it should not be an opaque shield. This would be a great venue for evaluations focused on outcomes by physicians/surgeons. For info my wife had bilateral knee replacement. The surgeon had an excellent reputation and following. One knee became superficially infected and led to 7 weeks of vancomycin. Signs of infection were becoming apparent at discharge from surgery follow up but overlooked. One knee got to 130 degrees with days, the superficially infected knee took weeks to get near that. Things can differ significantly outside of the surgeon's realm or maybe through unknown effects by the patient. The difficult knee was the first one done in surgery for info. Nevertheless, data helps much more than " stories. " Rich L Green Bay, WI ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 this has nothing to do with your request but my surgeon will NOT do bilateral knee or hip replacements.... one at a time.......Barb Doctor assessments I am curious why the moderator(s) of this group do not set up a folder in the files area where writers can share experiences with various surgeons. I realize there are numerous surgeons around the country but asking for anecdotal opinions at times immediately before surgery or in its planning is hit or miss. Getting doctor data is almost impossible but there are websites for it such as ratemd.com but they focus on typically inane questions (wait time at office, demeanor, etc). The industry fights any pending laws to force doctors and hospitals to record outcomes and issues and submit them for reporting. There is an argument against such laws in that providers would avoid higher risk cases to be fair but it should not be an opaque shield. This would be a great venue for evaluations focused on outcomes by physicians/surgeons. For info my wife had bilateral knee replacement. The surgeon had an excellent reputation and following. One knee became superficially infected and led to 7 weeks of vancomycin. Signs of infection were becoming apparent at discharge from surgery follow up but overlooked. One knee got to 130 degrees with days, the superficially infected knee took weeks to get near that. Things can differ significantly outside of the surgeon's realm or maybe through unknown effects by the patient. The difficult knee was the first one done in surgery for info. Nevertheless, data helps much more than " stories. " Rich L Green Bay, WI ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 In answer to your question, I don't feel there is a need to single out specific surgeons at this site. As consumers, you all should be doing your research as to a surgeon's reputation and outcomes. This is a venue for you all to share your experiences and you can bring up physician specific issues. I know nothing about these surgeons and it would be slanderous for me to establish a folder based on the experiences brought up here. I would suggest looking up your state's Medical Board, speaking to outpatient physical therapists and your own primary physicians for reporting on a Surgeon. They have the most information for you to make a decision on based on their direct interactions with patients. I have elected to run the forum in this manner... Thanks for asking! Alisa Curry PT DPT Site Moderator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 Jeff, My focus was more on the aspect of isolated " stories, " that is, to offer a place to accumulate the data. Some criteria could be set up as score points such as time to 110 or so bending, 3 month functional aspects, et al. Post op infection, superficial or joint (I suspect that this is under-reported at 2%). Complications. That sort of thing. Indicating how " nice " and doctor is, promptness of getting an appointment, etc don't do much for the outcome. Brand of knee used, model/style would also be an excellent piece of data. One of the possible contributions this group could make is accumulation of data that may offer greater insight than is available elsewhere. The joint replacement book is an excellent tool and I am very happy I found out about it here and bought it for my wife while she was considering hip and knee replacements. It was invaluable in questioning, assessing, and assisting. I credit this conference for that. One thing about data accumulation is it often leads to unexpected observations. I would be happy to work with someone to develop criteria to focus the data base. Rich > > Hi Rich, > What type of data would you propose members of this community could share about > their surgeons other than " stories " ? > Jeff > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Rich <rluxt@...> > Joint Replacement > Sent: Mon, March 28, 2011 11:56:11 AM > Subject: Doctor assessments > > I am curious why the moderator(s) of this group do not set up a folder in the > files area where writers can share experiences with various surgeons. > > > I realize there are numerous surgeons around the country but asking for > anecdotal opinions at times immediately before surgery or in its planning is hit > or miss. Getting doctor data is almost impossible but there are websites for it > such as ratemd.com but they focus on typically inane questions (wait time at > office, demeanor, etc). > > The industry fights any pending laws to force doctors and hospitals to record > outcomes and issues and submit them for reporting. There is an argument against > such laws in that providers would avoid higher risk cases to be fair but it > should not be an opaque shield. > > This would be a great venue for evaluations focused on outcomes by > physicians/surgeons. > > For info my wife had bilateral knee replacement. The surgeon had an excellent > reputation and following. One knee became superficially infected and led to 7 > weeks of vancomycin. Signs of infection were becoming apparent at discharge from > surgery follow up but overlooked. > One knee got to 130 degrees with days, the superficially infected knee took > weeks to get near that. Things can differ significantly outside of the surgeon's > realm or maybe through unknown effects by the patient. The difficult knee was > the first one done in surgery for info. > > Nevertheless, data helps much more than " stories. " > > Rich L > Green Bay, WI > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 Alisa, I think you are exactly right on this issue. Not only that the information would be of no use to people who don't live in the US., Another thing that comes to mind is you could have the same surgeon for the same operation and have totally different outcomes. I did... the first revision shoulder was a nightmare most people would say it wasn't a success but where I was a year ago its a success to me I can use it, the second one I have 75% movement in under 8 weeks. Thanks -- Re: Doctor assessments In answer to your question, I don't feel there is a need to single out specific surgeons at this site. As consumers, you all should be doing your research as to a surgeon's reputation and outcomes. This is a venue for you all to share your experiences and you can bring up physician specific issues I know nothing about these surgeons and it would be slanderous for me to establish a folder based on the experiences brought up here. I would suggest looking up your state's Medical Board, speaking to outpatient physical therapists and your own primary physicians for reporting on a Surgeon. They have the most information for you to make a decision on based on their direct interactions with patients. I have elected to run the forum in this manner... Thanks for asking! Alisa Curry PT DPT Site Moderator ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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