Hospitals

[Rick W]

Hi everyone.
I have not posted in a while as my surgery is a ways off, 1 or 2 years. I am currently exploring options and getting information. A question I have is with regards to hospitals. What advantages would a teaching facility like University of California Medical Center have over a St. Joseph Hospital when it comes to AVR surgery and quality of care. I know from this forum that there are many considerations when faced with surgery, choice of hospitals being one of them. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[hensylee]

Just make sure that wherever you go, they have a very modern heart center in the hospital.

Nice to see you. Remember you said you'd check in from time to time. Don't forget us. We are always here. God bless

 

[Marty]

Hospital? No!

Hospital? No!

Hi Rick, I have said this before and here we go again. It isn't the hospital that counts. Its the surgeon. Now I also advise patients to stay near home where the support system is. So what do you do?
Do you like and trust your cardiologist? Then, ask him where he would go and who he would choose for the surgeon. I did this after thinking about Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, etc. and wound up being operated at my own county hospital ten miles from my house;this was three years ago and my St.Jude mitral valve is working fine. My cardiologist got me a Coaguchek right away so the Coumadin has been no problem.

 

[Nancy]

Hi Marty-

I totally agree with you. The aftercare and "handoff" to the cardiologist are so very, very important. My husband had his surgery right here at a local hospital. He went to Boston for his first operation in 1977, but things have changed so much since then. We are absolutely blessed that we have a fantastic cardiothoracic surgeon here, all the members of his group are topnotch, and an award winning high volume program at Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, NY. I was able to visit him at will, and take care of my house as well. He could also have the support of his family here too.

Joe has had 2 heart valve surgeries, and 2 lung surgeries right here close to home, three at Ellis Hospital, and one at Albany Medical Center.

In my opinion, the continuity of medical information sharing has meant all the world to Joe, maybe even his life. I can't stress this enough.

 

[Mara]

I am with Marty, too.
I had my Ross Procedure done a hospital close to my house and closer to my mom's where I recuperated. Not at Indiana University Med. Center.

You would hope that a teaching hospital would have all the latest technology. but, they might be understaffed nursing wise, you might get poked and prodded by med. students, your surgeon might not do 100% of the surgery himself and pass it off to a surgical resident to do.

I went to a teaching hospital of sorts, but not like a university med center, but told them I did not want any med students coming by to hassle me. The fellows from my surgeon's medical group came by after surgery, but my surgeon did 100% of my surgery. Plus, my cardiologist works at the hospital and all of the docs my family knows came by to see me. My mom is a hospital administrator at a women's hosital and my dad is a pharmacuetical rep and my brother is an anesthesiologist. I opted out and went to law school!

Ask the hospital if they are prepared for your surgery, ask your surgeon.

Smaller hospitals can help you make it big!
Go with what feels right to you.
-mara

 

[mainframe]

Hi Rick.

I've just gone through the same search that you are undergoing, with my surgery coming up in a few days.

I chose a teaching hospital. My surgeon operates 1 day a week at a private hospital, the rest of the time at a teaching hospital, the University of Washington Medical Center. I could have had chosen either one. I chose the teaching hospital because I understood that's where his usual team works and I felt that's where I would benefit from a higher level of technology. Plus, wherever he's more comfortable, I'm more comfortable I do plan to write on my pre-operative permission that he is to be the primary surgeon and make it clear to hims that's my expectation. I noticed that on Best Hospitals: Heart most of the hospitals were teaching hospitals.

I found my surgeon, then ask for a referal from him for a cardiologist. I guess I'm a bit backwards. Good luck with your search. We are all lucky there are so many qualified doctors we all can find one we're comfortable with.

Chris

 

[RobThatsMe]

Hi Rick,


Here are some useful sites for additional information regarding hospitals and surgeons.

U.S. News will show you the hospital rankings in the USA by region, and specialty. The site address is:

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/nycu/health/hosptl/tophosp.htm

If you have trouble getting there, just type in www.usnews.com
Once there click onto their "Health" and you will find it from there.


Health Grades

The Healthcare Rating Experts
Address:

http://www.healthgrades.com

HEALTH CARE REPORT CARDS:

HOSPITAL REPORT CARDS
Ratings by procedure or diagnosis or more than 5,000 hospitals. Includes detailed information, maps and driving directions.
PHYSICIAN REPORT CARDS
Search for a list of leading physicians in the specialty and geographic area you specify. Includes detailed profile information, maps and driving directions for more than 550,000 physicians.
___
Best Doctors

http://www.bestdoctors.com/en/default.htm

Hope you find this information useful in your search.

Wishing you good health,

Rob

 

[Gail in Ca]

My cardiologist recommended my surgeon as the only one to use for my redo. My sister has a cardiologist friend who recommended the same one, although he worked in So Ca at the time and I'm in No Ca. I chose Dr Miller and he does surgery at Stanford Hospital. I also met the chief cardiac surgeon resident that would be assisting my surgeon. He had a wonderful bedside manner and exuded confidence. He was to be on his own in just a week after my surgery so I felt totally ok with his assisting my surgeon. I also live just 40 minutes from Stanford, so it all fell into place.
I didn't mind having two different groups of residents come in to see me after I came in as an emergency and was stablized. They were all very polite, and just need to see real patients to learn. It was no inconvenience at all.
However, do not let a regular resident remove your chest tubes. It didn't go as well for him as it would have for the Doctor at his side I am sure, what a horrible experience that was!!
Good Luck,
Gail

 

[Marty]

Who removes chest tubes?

Who removes chest tubes?

At Inova Fairfax surgeons don't remove chest tubes. residents don't remove chest tubes. PA's do, they do it every day and are slick at it . They gave me a little IV shot, said take a deep breath, and they were out and I didn't feel a thing. I had a friend who had med students try to remove her tubes at a university hospital
where the drill is "see one, do one,teach one" and it was a horror story, but she survived.

 

[Gail in Ca]

Matxr,
Just reading about your friend gave me the willy's and brought back the awful memories of my own chest tube removal. Of course I survived but it was the worst thing I have ever endured. I asked for something before he was going to do it, thinking they would give me valium or something, but, they just did it cold turkey at 7am on the 2nd day after surgery, ughhhhh.
That's a memory I will try to forget.
Funny thing was, when I woke up from my first avr in '89, my chest tubes were already removed so I didn't 'get' to experience it the first time around. So, I really didn't know what to expect that 2nd time, but had a feeling that it wouldn't be pleasant. I was right!!
Gail

 

[hensylee]

Recall the tube removal very well. Next a.m. after surgery, the dr came in, reached down and just pulled them out with quite a sloosh. Surprised the heck outta me. Didn't hurt a'tall just sounded gooshy. Next ones removed later were a bit different sounding but no pain. Was awake more with removal of them so paid more attention. Something you just can't explain, huh? Except in this site.