Are you worried about a knee, shoulder, or sports injury that affects your musculoskeletal system? Have you considered consulting an orthopedic surgeon?
Having a professional doctor’s opinion will save you time and money instead of having a personal prescription and over-the-counter drugs. But how will you select an orthopedic surgeon?
With the help of our guide, this will be the least of your worries. So, what is in it for you? You will learn who an orthopedic surgeon is and the qualities of a phenomenal orthopedic surgeon.
So, Let’s dig a little deeper!
You may have heard this term several times, especially if you’re in sports. Many are the times when accidents occur, resulting in serious injuries. Sports injuries are usually in the ankle, knee, and elbow.
An orthopedic surgeon is a qualified medical professional who specializes in conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system.
Our goal here is not to put you off with orthopedic jargon. A musculoskeletal system consists of the muscles, joints, ligaments, nerves, bones, and tendons.
In simpler terms, an orthopedic surgeon will prevent, diagnose and treat conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system.
Before we dive deeper into the qualities, it’s worth noting that orthopedic surgeons can be specialists or generalists. Meaning that a surgeon can specialize in specific areas while others are not.
For instance, at Kellie Middleton, we specialize in shoulder, knee, and other sporty injuries. Hence, if you’re looking for Atlanta orthopedic surgeon, you can consider our services.
So, with that in mind, which are the qualities you need to look out for from an orthopedic surgeon?
Whether you need a diagnosis or treatment for knee, shoulder arthritis, or ankle injuries, you want to be attended by a surgeon who depicts the best bedside behaviors.
Being personable does not come with skills or experience. It’s about how you treat and cope with people. Patients want to be treated with respect and empathy.
Otherwise, having an orthopedic surgeon who is not personable can turn off patients and harm your facility. You can identify the bedside manners of orthopedic surgeons by how they interact with the patients and fellow surgeons.
Another phenomenal quality of an orthopedic surgeon is their experience. Let’s say you’re researching the best orthopedic surgeons in Atlanta, and of course, there are multiple results.
Besides checking their profile, you will also be concerned about the experience of each one of them. For instance, an orthopedic surgeon has five years of experience, and a second option has 20 years.
So, who would you choose? Definitely, the one who has more years of experience. The more years of experience the orthopedic surgeon has builds credibility and trust they will deliver quality services.
What skills does the orthopedic surgeon have? Are they more of generalists, or are they specialists? Let’s say you have a leg injury from a sports activity.
You’ve been to a general doctor, but your problem persists. Now this calls for an orthopedic service. You can choose to go by a specialist instead of a generalist. The orthopedic should understand your condition first before proceeding to treatment.
Sometimes, shifts tend to change, and the medical procedures tend to take longer. The orthopedic surgeon should be in a position to adjust to the changes. They should be flexible enough to make the necessary adjustments.
Although work ethic applies everywhere, an orthopedic surgeon should also portray quality work ethics. Every patient is different, and so is the medical diagnosis.
Therefore, the surgeon should handle each issue uniquely and offer the best solution. For instance, if you have a leg problem, the orthopedic shouldn’t assume it’s arthritis or an injury.
They should take time to diagnose a problem before providing a solution. It shows that orthopedics is diligent in work and puts in extra effort to deliver the best results.
When an orthopedic is open-minded, it means that they are open to changes and new opportunities. For instance, digital evolution is making most operations easier and automatic.
For instance, some of the manual tasks like booking schedules are now digital. Your patients do not have to make a physical appearance to check the doctor’s availability and book an appointment.
Are you open to such changes? Being open-minded is a crucial factor in delivering quality services.
Qualification should be among the top qualities to look out for from an orthopedic. If, for instance, you’ve discovered an orthopedic online, can you identify their qualifications?
Your education and qualifications should be easy to access. For example, if you have a website, make sure you highlight the information on the website.
Include your certifications, education level, and year of graduation. A patient will trust a surgeon who has this information rather than the one without the credentials.
Not all injuries will require surgery. The orthopedic surgeon should offer alternatives for pain management or an injury that does not necessarily need surgery.
Sometimes, patients may be reluctant to visit an orthopedic surgeon due to the high cost. Having an alternative solution can also ease the cost burden for the patient.
There are so many changes in healthcare. Is the orthopedic willing to advance their education? With the innovations brought about by technology, the orthopedic should consider taking new classes. If your orthopedic is not open to the changes, you can proceed with the open-minded one.
The orthopedic should have the courage, especially in situations when they have to make tough decisions. For instance, in surgery, they are not sure of the outcome.
And that’s it for the qualities of an orthopedic surgeon. As a patient, you can check the surgeon’s website for reviews and ratings before you conclude.
If you’re looking for an orthopedic, you can schedule an appointment with us or contact us on mobile. We offer various services in the knee, shoulder, and sports injury. You can also check out what our clients say about us in the testimonial section.