How to find a surgeon, check on their history etc?

[niccig]

I need to consult with some surgeons re. my thyroid. I'm getting a few names from my endocrinologist and from one surgeon I saw, but who is no longer on my insurance plan.

So, how do you find the best doctor in a field? How do you check up on a doctor? Any web sites or recommended resources?

Normally, I ask friends, but no one has the same problem I have.

Thanks.
Nicci

[Aishe]

I ask my doctor: who would you go to if you needed this surgery? Frankly I think it's really hard to determine who is tops in the field if you're not an insider (i.e. someone who works in a medical field). I know there is a Best Doctors type list that you could probably Google, but it's hard to say how accurate it is.

Do I remember that you're in LA? I had a partial thyroidectomy at USC a few years ago and I can recommend my surgeon if you'd like. Feel free to PM me.

[elephantmeg]

sometimes local hospitals have lists on their website or through a phone number (ours is HealthSource) which will give you their education etc and then just ask around. I would get recs from the endocrinologist and then go from there.

[momtojack]

Consumer's Checkbook (www.checkbook.org) is a nonprofit similar to Consumer Reports that has editions for several metro areas. It also puts out a list of top doctors all over the country based on recommendations of other doctors. I used this when my dad needed to find a specialist in Nashville, and the dr we found has been wonderful. I really liked the idea that the list was based on asking other doctors in the area who they would want to treat their own family. Checkbook is a subscription service - I already had a subscription to the magazine at the time (~$30/yr) so I'm not sure if you can get access to the doctor list separately, but it might be worth checking. HTH!

Shelly

[niccig]

I sent you an email through the boards. Thanks.

[niccig]

Thank you. I'll look into those suggestions and I'll ask around. I think I will look into one of those paid services that grades doctors. I like the sound of checkbook as it's doctors saying who they would want to see.
I know I'll be able to find someone. I just wish I didn't have to do this.
Nicci

[randomkid]

Go to the website of the organization that licenses physicians/surgeons in your state. I see you are in CA, so here is your link:

http://www.medbd.ca.gov/

Click on Check Your Doctor to the left and you get this page where you can begin a search.

http://www.medbd.ca.gov/lookup.html

All you really need is the surgeon's full name and city and/or county. You can find all sorts of info there, including disciplinary action, education, etc. Just remember that a physician may have disciplinary action at some point, but that doesn't mean they are a bad physician or surgeon. You just have to see what the offense was and how significant that is to you.

Good Luck,

[niccig]

Thanks Kim. I'll check all of this out. I'm worried about having to do tis, so I just want to make sure I've checked everything.

[tsem]

I had a partial thyroidectomy almost two years ago and my endocronologist recommended a few surgeons. My insurance covered one of them. He was great- the main thing is that they perform many thyroid procedures. My surgeon is an Ent and he does over two hundred thyroid surgeries a year. He is very busy and it took two months to get on his surgery schedule. I think that is a good sign. Good luck- it was a scary time (not sure if my nodule was cancerous) but in the end it turned out well. The surgery itself was fine and recovery quick.
Traci