If your hand has been experiencing pain, weakness, numbness, or disability, you may have a condition that is best diagnosed and treated by a hand specialist. A hand surgeon will not automatically suggest surgery, as this doctor will determine the best method of treatment for your particular case.
Here are a few tips on how to find the best hand surgeon for you:
Ask for Recommendations from Your Physician
The first point of contact is usually your primary care doctor, who has already built a professional relationship with you and is familiar with your general style and preferences. Your primary care physician’s recommendations are valuable and worth considering, and other recommendations may come from your family members or friends.
If you are required by your health insurance to first obtain a referral before seeing a specialist such as a hand surgeon, this is an important factor. If you already know the name of a hand specialist you’d like to see, ask your doctor if they can refer you to that particular specialist.
Check Your Insurance Coverage
If you have one or two names of recommended hand surgeons, check your insurance provider’s network of doctors to see if the surgeon’s name is there. That said, medical practices often offer special payment plans so that their services are affordable for patients, regardless of insurance coverage. Do not hesitate to call the surgeon’s office or even your own health insurance office if you have any concerns or run into any roadblocks.
Research the Hand Surgeon’s Credentials and Reviews
Healthgrades.com and Vitals.com are great online resources for information about physicians. You can look up a doctor’s credentials and also see reviews from past patients. A hand surgeon should be board-certified and fellowship-trained to have the necessary training, skills, and experience to provide specialized care.
Also, experience matters in choosing a physician of any kind. The more experience the hand surgeon has, the better the outcomes tend to be.
Experienced Orthopedic Hand Surgeons in Central Maryland
Our upper-extremity experts here at the Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland provide superior hand and wrist care. Dr. Khurram Pervaiz and Dr. Brian Janz are both board-certified and fellowship-trained in performing surgery on the upper extremities, including hand surgery, shoulder surgery, and elbow surgery. Our medical team will evaluate what is needed to best treat your condition, and we will recommend the least-invasive method possible – which may include providing pain-relief injections or prescribing physical therapy.
In our clinic, we give you our full attention and treat you with compassion. We truly care about the recovery and ongoing wellness of our patients.
If you have any questions about our services or would like to schedule a consultation with one of our hand surgeons, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (410) 644-1880 or (855) 4MD-BONE (463-2663), or fill out our easy-to-use appointment request form online now. We look forward to seeing you in our Catonsville, Columbia, or Eldersburg offices so you can get your hand back again!
