Learning about Your Surgeon

It is important to have confidence in the physician who will be performing your surgery. Whether this is someone you have chosen yourself, or a physician/surgeon you have been referred to, you can make sure that he/she is qualified to perform this operation. This may include any/all of the following:

• Ask your primary care physician, your local medical society, or health insurance company for information regarding the physician/surgeon's experience with the procedure.
• Ask about the physician/surgeon's credentials and whether he/she has any additional certifications that make him/her more experienced in performing the procedure.
• Make certain the physician/surgeon is affiliated with an accredited healthcare facility. When considering surgery, where it is performed is often as important as who is performing the procedure. 

Tips for communicating with your physician

It is important to communicate your feelings, questions, and concerns with your physician prior to having surgery. The following suggestions may help to improve communication between you and your physician:

• If you do not understand your physician's responses, ask questions until you do.
• Take notes, or ask a family member or friend to accompany you and take notes for you. You can also bring a tape recorder, so you can review information later.
• Ask your physician to write down his/her instructions, if necessary.
• Ask your physician where you can find printed material about your condition. Many physicians have this information in their offices.
• If you still have questions, ask the physician where you can go for more information.