J
jonnum
I live in Central California and am facing valve replacement in the near future. I would like advice about how to choose the best hospital and surgeon.
Jerry
Jerry
Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:
debster913
Well-known member
Welcome!
How soon will you be having surgery, and on which valve(s)?
I was fortunate enough to have my cardiologist hand-pick my surgeon for me. I trust my cardiologist's judgment (I've been his patient for almost seven years), and he selected Dr. Vaughn Starnes from USC for me (he also operated on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ten years ago). My cardiologist worked under Starnes during his fellowship, and knows he is expert at the type of surgery I had. Seven months later, I am doing well.
I would suggest you look into a large teaching hospital, such as USC or UCLA. Many top-notch surgeons perform operations there, and there is a large staff at those hospitals. During my three-day stay after my surgery, I had a great team of nurses caring for me.
The only other advice I can give you is depending on the type of valve surgery you have (aortic replacement, mitral replacement, etc.) is that you find a hospital with an excellent track record for that surgery, as well as a surgeon who specializes in the surgery you anticipate. Do your research. Go online, look up surgeons and find out their credentials. When I was at my cardiologist's office Wednesday, I was speaking with another patient in the waiting room who told me his wife refused to allow this one surgeon to operate on him because that surgeon had a discipline record.
Good luck to you, and keep us updated!
Debi (debster913)
How soon will you be having surgery, and on which valve(s)?
I was fortunate enough to have my cardiologist hand-pick my surgeon for me. I trust my cardiologist's judgment (I've been his patient for almost seven years), and he selected Dr. Vaughn Starnes from USC for me (he also operated on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ten years ago). My cardiologist worked under Starnes during his fellowship, and knows he is expert at the type of surgery I had. Seven months later, I am doing well.
I would suggest you look into a large teaching hospital, such as USC or UCLA. Many top-notch surgeons perform operations there, and there is a large staff at those hospitals. During my three-day stay after my surgery, I had a great team of nurses caring for me.
The only other advice I can give you is depending on the type of valve surgery you have (aortic replacement, mitral replacement, etc.) is that you find a hospital with an excellent track record for that surgery, as well as a surgeon who specializes in the surgery you anticipate. Do your research. Go online, look up surgeons and find out their credentials. When I was at my cardiologist's office Wednesday, I was speaking with another patient in the waiting room who told me his wife refused to allow this one surgeon to operate on him because that surgeon had a discipline record.
Good luck to you, and keep us updated!
Debi (debster913)
K
Keithf
start here
start here
You can start by looking at HealthGrades.
http://www.healthgrades.com/
I don't know how valid these are but from the little information I have it seemed accurate.
start here
You can start by looking at HealthGrades.
http://www.healthgrades.com/
I don't know how valid these are but from the little information I have it seemed accurate.
L
linda d.
Just new to this forum, but facing surgery 1/9. Cleveland Clinic is rated No. 1 in the country in heart surgery.....thank God I only live 1 hour away...I can't tell you how impressed I am with this facility.....I would fly across the nation for it, if it was a heart issue.
Look on their web-site......for any information.
Look on their web-site......for any information.
P
Phyllis
Welcome Jerry. You might also take a look at http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/tophosp.htm
Can I also suggest that you change your user name as you may not want your email address out there on a public forum.
I know you will find much support and information here.
Can I also suggest that you change your user name as you may not want your email address out there on a public forum.
I know you will find much support and information here.Diane
Well-known member
Jerry,
I had a pulmonary valve replacement at Stanford University about 2 years ago. I received excellent care and would recommend them.
~Diane
I had a pulmonary valve replacement at Stanford University about 2 years ago. I received excellent care and would recommend them.
~Diane
J
jonnum
Information about doctors and hospitals
Information about doctors and hospitals
Thank you to everyone who offered help with my previous question. I have a leaky aortic valve. I?ve known about it for several years, and we?ve known that surgery would be necessary some time in the future. I have a sress test scheduled for the end of the month. I?m pretty sure that the test will indicate that the time has come. In my previous post I asked for suggestions of doctors and hospitals. I?m still doing research, but will be deciding soon. Thanks again for your help.
Jerry:
Information about doctors and hospitals
Thank you to everyone who offered help with my previous question. I have a leaky aortic valve. I?ve known about it for several years, and we?ve known that surgery would be necessary some time in the future. I have a sress test scheduled for the end of the month. I?m pretty sure that the test will indicate that the time has come. In my previous post I asked for suggestions of doctors and hospitals. I?m still doing research, but will be deciding soon. Thanks again for your help.
Jerry:
C
Cynaburst
Another place to consider is Cedars-Sinai. I have heard that Dr. Trento there is very good.
T
TomS
Use the other information that people have sent to you and come up with a short list of hospitals that you would consider. Then call the surgeons and ask them how many of your specific operation that they have done, how many that they did last year, and what their mortality rate was. Experience and success rates are all that matters.
I started with a world renowned surgeon who had a mortality rate of 5%, but found one that did 250 of "my operation" per year, with a mortality rate of 0.7%.
Good luck,
Tom
P.S. If you are willing to travel, the normal suspects are Cleveland Clinic, Texas Heart Institute, Mass General, and Cornell (Columbia Pres) in NY.
I started with a world renowned surgeon who had a mortality rate of 5%, but found one that did 250 of "my operation" per year, with a mortality rate of 0.7%.
Good luck,
Tom
P.S. If you are willing to travel, the normal suspects are Cleveland Clinic, Texas Heart Institute, Mass General, and Cornell (Columbia Pres) in NY.
M
MikeB
My cardiologist referred me to a surgeon in NY, about 2 1/2 hours away, but it was well worth it. Ask your cardiologist they should be able to refer you to one of the best surgeons known out there or around the vicinity.
I couldn't resist posting a reply on your thread. I found the surgeon I want (via internet at 1st, then more research) and he has doing surgery out of an existing hospital for quite a few years. When I met with him in mid-December he mentioned there was a new facility opening late January where I could schedule my surgery if I wanted. Turned out this facility was going to be state-of-the-art and was being compared to a 5 star hotel. I did a tour of the new heart hospital over the weekend and started feeling like...'hey, maybe this won't be such an ordeal'...what with the wireless internet in each room, Starbucks on the 1st floor...etc. Today my surgeon's office called me to tell me the new hospital does not have a contract with my insurance company so I will need to have my surgery at the other established hospital. Yes - I spent most of the afternoon on the phone arguing with the insurance company but at the end of the day, my biggest worry is taken care of. I am confident in my surgeon & just happy he is doing my surgery - wherever it's at!
PS The ValveReplacement group is probably more on top of this than me, but there are public websites where you can get information about your surgeon and any potential issues....
MaryC
PS The ValveReplacement group is probably more on top of this than me, but there are public websites where you can get information about your surgeon and any potential issues....
MaryC
