How to Choose an Orthopedic Surgeon in Phoenix

Finding and choosing an orthopedic surgeon can be an intimidating process and it isn’t something that should be taken lightly. Whether you’re having shoulder, knee, hip, or some other kind of musculoskeletal problem, you’re going to need an expert team in your corner that deeply understands the level of care required and is equipped to perform the needed surgery.

Orthopedic surgery can be a life-transforming procedure, and you want to feel confident that you’ve made the right choice in your surgeon.

How to go about finding qualified candidates

There are over 200 specialists practicing orthopedic surgery in the Phoenix area. It’s understandable that narrowing that list down to your surgeon can feel daunting.

Rather than trying to pinpoint the “best” surgeon, you’ll want to look for a surgery team that is well-regarded in the field and is experienced. Oftentimes, patients will approach this task with the query of which to choose first: hospital or doctor?

The truth is, there’s no right or wrong way to approach this, and many patients find that the best approach is a bit of cross referencing while exploring their options.

Many of our patients have found that speaking with their primary care physician or friends and family is incredibly helpful. Your primary care doctor will likely know several orthopedic surgeons in Phoenix or have colleagues who do. And if you happen to have a friend or family member who has undergone orthopedic surgery of some sort and was happy with their treatment, then by all means, ask them about the experience.

Look into credentials

Once you’ve narrowed your list down to several surgeons or hospitals, look at credentials. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with looking at where a surgeon went to medical school, this shouldn’t be a make or break factor in your choice. It’s more important that the surgeon is board-certified from the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, and has maintained his or her status over the years.

You should also look into the reputation of the hospitals the surgeon practices in. Are the hospitals well-known for orthopedic surgery? Have they been recognized in the orthopedic industry? OASIS Hospital holds recognition in 2019, 2020, and 2021 for being one of the best hospitals in the country for joint and hip replacement.

Speak with various surgeons

It’s incredibly important that you get a good feeling about your chosen orthopedic surgeon from the beginning. He or she may have an impressive resume, but if you don’t get a good vibe from them, they’re probably not right for you. While you don’t need to feel like your orthopedic surgeon is your new best friend, they should seem affable and genuinely listen to your concerns. It’s also a good idea to have some prepared questions to ask when choosing an orthopedic surgeon, such as:

• What treatment would you recommend?
• Are there any possible complications associated with this treatment?
• How many surgeries do you perform a year?
• Do you follow up with patients after the surgery?
• What’s your availability?
• Do you work with my insurance?

Those are just some suggested questions, and each person is going to have their own unique set of questions when interviewing candidates. The most important thing is that you and your surgeon have good communication and a strong level of trust.

If you’re looking for a high-quality, service-oriented environment for your surgical procedure, choose the foremost experts on orthopedic surgery in the Phoenix, Arizona Metro Area at Arizona Specialty Hospital.