Orthopedic surgeons are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons employ both surgical and nonsurgical methods to treat their patients.
With so many orthopedic surgeons in West Jersey to choose from, you still want to choose the best one for you. To help you in your search, here are five useful tips on how to choose the best orthopedist for your care.
#1 Make sure the orthopedist is board-certified
Board certification shows that the doctor is up-to-date on the latest treatments and procedures and that the doctor has completed additional exams beyond medical school and residency. Look for board certification from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) for a knowledgeable and well-trained orthopedist.
#2 Choose a fellowship-trained orthopedist
Fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons have completed additional training in a specific area of orthopedics, such as sports medicine, spine surgery, or joint replacement surgery. This extra training allows them to provide the most up-to-date and comprehensive care for their patients.
Orthopedists treat a wide variety of conditions, but some may be more experienced with certain types of injuries or diseases than others. Therefore, when choosing an orthopedic surgeon for your care, it is important to consider whether they are fellowship trained in the area in which you need treatment. For example, if you are having knee problems due to arthritis, you want to see a fellowship-trained joint replacement surgeon. If you have back issues, it is better to choose a fellowship-trained spine surgeon for your care.
#3 Learn more about the doctor
Once you have a few names of potential orthopedists, do some research on each doctor. Check out their websites and read online reviews to help you determine if they are the right doctor for you. You can learn a lot from a doctor’s website, such as where they went to medical school and completed residency, and whether they have board certification, fellowship training, and membership in various organizations.
#4 Find out what kind of treatment approach the orthopedist recommends
Some doctors focus primarily on nonsurgical treatments, while others may recommend surgery sooner rather than later for certain conditions. The most advanced procedures, such as arthroscopic surgery, should you need it, can mean less pain and a faster recovery for you, so check if the doctor is highly experienced in arthroscopy and other advanced techniques.
#5 Listen to your gut
After meeting with each orthopedist, you should have a good feeling about which one is right for you. If not, ask your primary care doctor for a referral to another specialist and keep looking until you find someone with whom you feel comfortable entrusting your care.
Board-Certified and Fellowship-Trained Orthopedists in West Jersey
The orthopedic surgeons at Orthopedic Associates of West Jersey have the qualifications and skills needed to provide you with the highest quality orthopedic care in West Jersey. Our doctors are board-certified and fellowship-trained in sports medicine and spine surgery and treat patients with sports injuries, work-related injuries, hip and knee arthritis, shoulder arthritis, and much more.
Come to us with your orthopedic issues, and we will work hard to help you experience a significant improvement in your symptoms. To schedule a consultation, call our orthopedic clinic in Dover at (973) 989-0888, or use our convenient online request form.
