Choosing a Spine Surgeon

Finding a spine surgeon who is qualified to perform your procedure and with whom you're comfortable can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help make the process easier.

Your level of comfort should be your guide when deciding to schedule treatment or surgery with a specific physician. Each of us considers different criteria when making that decision. You might want a doctor who listens to your questions and attempts to answer them in a way that is easy to understand, or a doctor who is close to where you live or who has convenient office hours. Finding the doctor who's right for you can be an overwhelming process.

If you are considering spine surgery, it's likely your primary care doctor, physical therapist or pain management specialist can suggest a spinal surgeon in your community. But, if you would like to expand your search, we have a few tips.

1. First, you need to create a list of spine surgeons in your area. Start by asking friends and family for referrals, choosing from your health insurance list of participating physicians or visiting our Find a Doctor locator.
2. Once you've created a list, you should research each surgeon. Call the office and find out if they are taking new patients, their hospital affiliations, and what the surgeon's primary specialty is.
3. In addition, other patients can give an overall impression of a surgeon. If you know someone who has visited a spine surgeon on your list, ask them about their experience.

• Here are some questions to ask another patient:

• Was the doctor's office staff courteous and cooperative?
• Did the doctor take enough time, both in treating and in explaining things to you and your family?
• Did you feel confident in the doctor's expertise?
• Was the doctor easy to reach, especially after surgery?
• Would you return to this doctor for care?

Board certification is a term often used when evaluating physicians. While this is often a good indicator, it is not without flaws. There are numerous boards and societies, and some of these are self-designated with no formal requirements. The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is a not-for-profit organization that assists 24 approved medical specialty boards in the development and use of standards in the ongoing evaluation and certification of physicians. To find out if the doctor you are considering is certified, please contact the ABMS at (866) ASK-ABMS (275-2267) or visit the organization's Web site at www.abms.org.

The materials on this Web site are for your general educational information only. Information you read on this Web site cannot replace the relationship that you have with your health care professional. We do not practice medicine or provide medical services or advice as a part of this Web site. You should always talk to your health care professional for diagnosis and treatment.