Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Make an informed judgment on the abilities of your surgeon

Paul Ruggieri, MD
Physician
December 23, 2011
Share
Tweet
Share

How many of the 40 million plus patients undergoing an operation this year are truly informed of their surgeon’s track record?  I suspect the vast majority of patients entering the operating room today are unaware of existing, vital information that would enable them to make an informed judgment on the professional abilities of their surgeon.

Most patients who end up in a surgeon’s office are there because their primary care physician sent them to the “best” surgeon in town.  They arrive, blindly trusting the judgment of their primary care physician.  What I find even more intriguing is that most primary care physicians are also unaware of the same existing, vital information necessary for them to make an informed decision on the “best” surgeon in town.

When you sign (and probably do not read) that consent form for your upcoming hysterectomy, knee replacement, heart bypass, or laparoscopic cholecystectomy, you consent to knowing the what, why, and potential what if’s of the operation.  However, are you informed enough to consent to knowing the “who” of the operation?

Patients undergoing surgery today do not have access to compiled performance data and because of this, I believe, are prevented from making informed decisions on the competency of their surgeon.  Today’s medical (and legal) system intentionally blocks patient access to pertinent performance information, information readily available to hospitals, insurance companies, and federal government agencies.

Why is this?  Why do hospitals have access to specific data on every surgeon’s performance in your community when patients about to enter the operating room do not?  Why is the patient, the one most directly affected by it, prevented from accessing this data?  For that matter, how does a patient begin to research the “real”experience of their surgeon, uncover the “real” performance data.  The diplomas, residency, fellowship training, board certification, and societal memberships only touch the surface.  Many of these questions asked have no good answer yet.

I believe in total transparency in the surgical profession and it is time to open up the hospital/insurance company books and take a look at information the public is craving for … information necessary to give a real informed consent.

Paul Ruggieri is a general surgeon and author of Confessions of a Surgeon.

Submit a guest post and be heard on social media’s leading physician voice.

Prev

Happy residents do much more for their patients

December 23, 2011 Kevin 0
…
Next

The 7 types of medical students you'll meet

December 24, 2011 Kevin 9
…

Tagged as: Patients, Surgery

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Happy residents do much more for their patients
Next Post >
The 7 types of medical students you'll meet

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Paul Ruggieri, MD

  • Health care for profit: How corporate pressures threaten independent medical practices

    Paul Ruggieri, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Deciphering hospital bills is not for the faint of heart

    Paul Ruggieri, MD

More in Physician

  • The unseen cost of detachment in radiology

    Dr. Yesu Raju
  • I thought success was a destination. Then I became a doctor.

    Ryan Nadelson, MD
  • How subjective likability practices undermine Canada’s health workforce recruitment and retention

    Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD
  • Why judgment is hurting doctors—and how mindfulness can heal

    Jessie Mahoney, MD
  • Why evidence-based management may be an effective strategy for stronger health care leadership and equity

    Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD
  • The gift we keep giving: How medicine demands everything—even our holidays

    Tomi Mitchell, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Why health care leaders fail at execution—and how to fix it

      Dave Cummings, RN | Policy
    • How digital tools are reshaping the doctor-patient relationship

      Vineet Vishwanath | Tech
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Why the U.S. mental health care system is failing and how to fix it [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The unseen cost of detachment in radiology

      Dr. Yesu Raju | Physician
    • I thought success was a destination. Then I became a doctor.

      Ryan Nadelson, MD | Physician
    • Why psychotherapy works and why psychotherapy fails

      Peggy A. Rothbaum, PhD | Conditions
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • How oral health silently affects your heart, brain, and body

      Charles Reinertsen, DMD | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 13 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Why health care leaders fail at execution—and how to fix it

      Dave Cummings, RN | Policy
    • How digital tools are reshaping the doctor-patient relationship

      Vineet Vishwanath | Tech
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Why the U.S. mental health care system is failing and how to fix it [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The unseen cost of detachment in radiology

      Dr. Yesu Raju | Physician
    • I thought success was a destination. Then I became a doctor.

      Ryan Nadelson, MD | Physician
    • Why psychotherapy works and why psychotherapy fails

      Peggy A. Rothbaum, PhD | Conditions
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • How oral health silently affects your heart, brain, and body

      Charles Reinertsen, DMD | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Make an informed judgment on the abilities of your surgeon
13 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...