If you have experienced the following: pain, stiffness, or some discomfort when you are about doing your daily activities, also chronic pain, decreased range of motion, instability while walking or standing among others, or if you were in a car accident or even a slip-and-fall, you might be in need to see a qualified orthopedic doctor.

If you have experienced the following: pain, stiffness, or some discomfort when you are about doing your daily activities, also chronic pain, decreased range of motion, instability while walking or standing among others, or if you were in a car accident or even a slip-and-fall, you might be in need to see a qualified orthopedic doctor.

It is important to consider that some conditions are chronic, and they could last months or years and are usually progressive, meaning they tend to worsen as the years pass, and when there is no treatment, they tend to accelerate. Some are because of age or genetics, and others are a consequence of overusing the affected part of your body.

All this could be very daunting, and finding the right orthopedic can be even more so, given all the available physicians just in Florida. Many aspects should be taken into consideration when we are trusting our health and bodies to a stranger to help us heal and return to our quality of life.

Why finding a qualified doctor is important?

Finding a qualified orthopedic physician is important because it will give you the best chance at an accurate diagnosis and a speedy and successful recovery. Most people tend to avoid making an appointment with an orthopedic doctor because they are afraid it will mean having to go through a surgical procedure. But finding a non-surgical orthopedist could be a good start in case you do not have a clear diagnosis. Many conditions do not require surgery to solve them.

To find an experienced and qualified orthopedic doctor in Florida, we must look for these qualities:

Look for Top-Notch Training

When looking for a good orthopedic in Florida, it is not enough that he/she meets all the necessary board-certified training and degrees. You also must consider if he/she has finished an accredited fellowship in the sub-specialty directly related to your suspected condition.

Fellowships for doctors are learning opportunities to develop their knowledge and experience in their selected sub-specialty. Usually, this type of information can be found on the doctor’s official website and network listings. If you can not find it, you can ask for it.

Access to Robust Resources

When searching for an orthopedic specialist in Florida make sure that he/she is backed by a reputable health system. This is a good idea because usually doctors from institutions that continuously conduct research are more interested in improving patient care. They also have more access to resources for diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and pain management.

Research the Orthopedic Surgeon’s Credentials

One aspect that must not be overlooked is certifying that the orthopedic is board certified because this lets you know that he/she has the necessary training, skills, and experience to provide you with the orthopedic care you need.

You must also research if that orthopedic surgeon has a history of malpractice claims or disciplinary actions. All the details related to a doctor's credentials, such as the orthopedic surgeon’s medical school, training hospital, certifications, and malpractice and disciplinary history online.

Consider the Orthopedic Surgeon’s Experience

Before you choose your orthopedic doctor, you must evaluate what kind of experience they have. This will give you some inclination whether he/she will be able to tackle complex orthopedic issues. Remember, the more experience, the better results you will receive.

You can ask how many patients with the same condition as yours the doctor has treated  successfully, the most common procedures he/she has performed, and how many in total he/she has done. You can even ask about his/her complication rates and your own risk of complications.

Evaluate Communication Style

Your condition might require long-term treatment, which demands continuous and regular appointments with the orthopedic surgeon you choose. But even if your ailment is not that complicated, good and open communication with your specialist will facilitate your diagnosis and procedures a great deal.

When deciding on an orthopedic doctor, you must feel comfortable when sharing information regarding your symptoms. Be attentive to how they answer your questions and how they address you when answering. Is he/she engaged in the conversation? Do you feel rushed? Are they receptive to your questions? Is he/she open to your treatment preferences?

Your specialist must respect you and show interest in you and in the information he is receiving from you.

Get recommendations from friends and family

You can get recommendations from friends and family members. Preferably from anyone who is under treatment or if they work in a hospital or a doctor’s office. They can give you insights into which doctor has the highest ratings and who work with patients with similar conditions as yours.

They can also refer you to orthopedic doctors with a communication style that is more in tune with your personality and liking.

Check Patient Reviews

Take the time to look up all the selected doctors online. You would be able to find a list of reviews from former and/or current patients. Learning about other patients’ experiences will help you form a complete profile of the doctor and his/her qualifications. It will also help you understand better what you will be facing once you decide to make an appointment with any of the selected orthopedic specialists that make your selection cut.

Cost and Availability

Dr. W. Kelton Vasileff, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, says that when searching for an experienced and qualified orthopedic doctor, there are three things that we must always consider "the three A’s: availability, affability, and ability." Because you might not need to be "best friends with your orthopedic surgeon, but that relationship you have, that trust, has a lot to do with the success of the treatment."

When selecting your new orthopedic specialist, consider not just who is near you but also who is available to attend to you, and always before booking an appointment, ask about the consultation costs. Because if the selected doctor does not accept your insurance, the procedure prescribed could become a very expensive ordeal. You can find this out by contacting your insurance company.

Finding and choosing the best experienced and qualified orthopedic doctor in Florida requires care and attention, but if you follow these recommendations, the process will be much easier to carry out.

This is not a process that should be rushed; take the necessary time to do the research, do not settle for the first doctor that you see, and always ask questions that will help you make a decision. At Injury Assistance Network, we know how important it is to find experienced and qualified orthopedic doctors in Florida. For that reason, we have some of the most renowned orthopedic specialists in the state, available for you.