Heart Surgeon/Hospital's History

[elfoh]

Hello.

My grandma just found out last week that she is going to have to have an aortic valve replacement. She lives in a pretty small town and she's pretty reluctant to travel very far to have the surgery. She is in very good health, aside from needing the valve replacement, so that's not what's stopping her...she's just nervous about the whole thing. My mom has read that being over 65 (she's 76) and having adult onset diabeties can increase mortality rates. I'm not terribly worried yet but I do want to make absolute sure that the doctor is a good one especially since she has a couple of risk factors.

My question is, where can I find information about the surgeon that is going to be doing the surgery. The hospital is relatively small, and there are some superb hospitals not too far away. I would like her to come to one that has a doctor that does more than a handful of valve replacements a year. I haven't be able to find anywhere that has information about how many valve replacements or even heart surgeries the hospital or the surgeon has done in the past.

Does anyone know where I can get information about the hospital or the surgeon???

 

[Ross]

www.healthgrades.com will get you some limited information. When it comes to surgeons, I agree fully that she needs to go to someone that has performed a heck of alot more then a handful of replacements. You may have to start really interviewing other Doctors for their opinions on this referral. Healthgrades provides some info on surgeons, but it's nothing you can't get yourself with a few phone calls.

Welcome to the forum and if we can assist in anyway, just give a yell. There are more then enough people and experience here to answer nearly anything you can throw at us.

 

[medtronic of borg]

check it out

check it out

Ask to speak with the chief of surgery. Be specific! "DR x may be doing a avr on my grandmother...I was woundering how many he did in the past year and how many are still alive today?" By law all hospitals must give you this information in writing. So get it in writing. And start compairing hospitals yourself. It will require a visit to the hospital or a well worded letter.

try also checking with the your states medical board. They keep all kind of information particularly the bad ones.

 

[Nancy]

Hi and welcome-

If you can tell us where you or your grandmother are located, maybe some here would have some recommendations.

My husband had his most recent thoracic surgeries (2 valves and 2 lungs) locally and they all went beautifully. We are blessed with a terrific surgeon who does high volume work.

Staying local had some wonderful advantages. I was able to take care of the house and our dog and cats and still be up visiting my husband and helping him while in the hospital. I could go there in the morning, go home for lunch and go back for the afternoon and evening. The "hand-off" to the cardiologist was seamless, all information was kept intact.

There was no worrying about how to coordinate coming home with a plane ticket, or long travel times when my husband was very sore after being released. It was a 20 minute ride home, and he was in his jammies and comfortable at home.

The follow-up appointments were with the surgeon who did the surgery, and knew what went on inside there. I think that's a big help.

It's easy to check on surgeons in your local area. Information is available from many sources, former patients, other doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, even your dentist.

best wishes.

 

[elfoh]

OHIO

OHIO

My grandma lives in a very small town in Ohio called New Knoxville. It's about an hour and a half northeast of Columbus and about 40 minutes from Dayton and about 20 minutes from Lima. The hospital that she is scheduled to have surgery at is Lima Memorial Hospital and I've check out the www.heathgrades.com web page and it lists them as a Low Volume hospital for valve replacements. The surgeon's name is Ronald Pohl, and he is listed as a Thoracic Surgeon and a General Surgeon.

I'm going to call the hospital today to get some more information. Her surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday (11/5), I hope I can get enough information by then. Not that Dr Pohl isn't, but I really want to make sure she has a excellent surgeon (whether it's Dr Pohl or someone else) especially since she is diabetic and over 65 (2 risk factors my mom has read about).

Thank you guys for all the responses!!!! I can't tell you how much it helps.

I'll keep you posted.

 

[Ross]

Personally if you could, I'd try to get her to go to The Cleveland Clinic. Not that the hospital she is going to is bad, it just doesn't sound like she'd have the best possible care. It's really hard to say with what you read on healthgrades. This is why it's important to go on a fact finding mission before hand even if it means making a few people upset because the have to take the time to answer you.

Do what's in her best interest. That is the bottom line.

 

[JetService]

My group was the Indiana/Ohio Heart Group. I know Lima is close to us, so they may do some work there. If you'd like I can see if they have any info for you on her hospital and surgeon. Just let me know.

 

[elfoh]

Yeah! That would be great if you could. The surgery is really getting close and I could use all the help I can get.

Thanks so much!

Erica

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Bottom Line:

The BEST M&M (Mortality and Morbidity) numbers come from hospitals and surgeons who perform Valve Replacement Surgery daily. (Good numbers are >1000 / yr for the hospital and >200/yr for the surgeon).

The NUMBER ONE HEART HOSPITAL in the WORLD is the
CLEVELAND CLINIC which isn't too far away. There may be other good heart hospitals closer to home, but if it were me, I would NOT have AVR at a small hospital that only does them in Low Numbers.

For post-op care, you want Nurses who care for Heart Surgery patients ONLY. THEY know what to look for and when there is a problem that needs immediate attention.

Just my humble opinion.

'AL'