Finding a specialist orthopedic centre (OPC) in your area can be challenging. There are so many of them these days, and they all look the same. If you’re looking to find one in your area, keep reading to discover how to do it properly. You will find that most OPCs advertise their services on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. This makes it easier for patients to find them quickly among their peers. But this doesn’t mean that everyone is legitimate. Check with the abovementioned social media platforms to make sure that the OPC you are considering working with actually exists and isn’t a fake account or another firm trying to take your money.
Research the specialty before you choose your OPC
First, make sure that the specialist orthopaedic centre you are choosing is actually qualified to perform your surgery. Ask your surgeon whether or not the OPC you are considering working with is board certified, and be sure to ask him or her about any additional requirements that may come with that certification. You can also check the website of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) to see if they have any special requirements for board certification. Many OPCs advertise themselves as board certified, but it’s a good idea to double check with your surgeon to make sure. Some surgeons may require board certification before they will perform certain surgeries on you, and some surgeons are board certified even though they don’t perform many foot and ankle surgeries.
Find a referral specialist for your foot and ankle surgery
Your OPC may not be able to help you with your foot and ankle surgery referral. There are lots of referral specialists who see patients with foot and ankle problems, and they may refer you to the right person. But in some cases, you may have to look outside the box a bit and find a different specialist. There are lots of referral sources for foot and ankle surgery, and your primary care physician may be one of them. But you should also keep in mind that many people with the same condition as you prefer to see different specialists, so you may have to dig a little to find the right one.
Ask for references when hiring an OPC
When you’re looking to hire an orthopaedic surgeon, you should ask for references from past patients. This will help you find a reliable surgeon who knows how to work with your specific condition and who can give you the best possible care. Ask your surgeon if you can ask patients who have worked with the surgeon in the past to recommend him or her to you, too. Some OPCs will put up a request for references on their social media platforms, but be careful not to spam your doctor with too many requests, or you may accidentally generate too many negative references.
Get pre-surgery consultations with your OPC
Before your foot and ankle surgeon performs a surgery on you, you should schedule a consultation with him or her to go over the procedure in detail and get an idea of what to expect. This consult should occur at least a week or two before your surgery, and it’s a good idea to book it a few months in advance. You should also bring at least two things to the meeting: a list of questions you want answered, and a list of things that you want the surgeon to examine you while you are under anesthesia.
Aftercare for your OPC surgery
Once you have your foot and ankle surgery scheduled, it’s time to look at your aftercare options. Your surgeon will likely give you a list of aftercare options after surgery, but you should ask him or her about the types of aftercare that the surgeon recommends. And make sure to ask about any additional side effects that may result from the aftercare, too. Many OPCs recommend a plantar wart removal procedure called heel pad trimming after foot and ankle surgeries.
Finding a good orthopaedic surgeon can be difficult. There are so many of them these days, and they all look the same. If you’re looking to find one in your area, you’ll want to do your research and ask a variety of different doctors and surgeons about whether or not they recommend the same place for foot and ankle surgeries.
