Re: How did you search for a reputable doctor?

[Deb]

Hi to everybody! 

I am very new to this kind of forum - have never 'spoken' with others through the Internet so excuse me if I am missing the mark.  I have been told I have osteoarthritis and have very little cartlige in my left hip and the right one is developing spurs.  I have been advised to have a THR.  However, in searching through the web, I am most interested in BHR.  I have been searching overseas for two reasons... first is the cost in the US.,I guess I am rebeling about the outrageous cost of health care in the US and secondly, since the BHR is fairly new in this country I really worry about thier experience level.  I am 49 years old and have a history of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and am currently taking coumadin because more clots were discovered a month ago so I may be a 'high risk' patient.  Interestingly, before I discovered this website, through all the information I found, I had decided to pursue medical care in India and had narrowed my search to Dr. Vijay Bose and Dr. Marya - I believe both are in New Delhi and/or Chennai.  I feel more confident about my decisions now that I have discovered Dr. Bose participates in this site as well...

I am nervous about my care in the US - although I know there are numerous excellent surgeons here - probably because the doctor that diagnosed me had seen me 2 years ago and told me I did not have fibromyalgia (which I was treated for 5 years with meds) and told me to go see a psychiatrist, never telling me he also diagnosed OA.  He also failed to forward my records to my local doctor.  So I continued to doctor outside of my area again because I still knew something was very wrong, I can hardly walk anymore.  Long story short, I ended up with the same specialist through a series of referrals and he 'apologized' for not forwarding my records and said that he diagnosed me the first time with OA...HE NEVER TOLD ME THAT...  I have spent thousands of dollars to come to that same conclusion...  he said he felt bad that his office failed to send my records...however, he is not paying my expenses!!!  I again asked for these new records to be forwarded to my local doctor by a certain date as I had a consultation with my personal doctor to review all the findings.  Again - failed to follow through and his records were not there.  Anyway, I have a consultation with a surgeon on March 3rd to discuss my procedure (this was a referral from the specialist not following through) and this surgeon is in the same healthcare network.  However, in my searches on the net, find that this doctor is not certified to do BHR.  I will follow through with this appt. to have more discussion on my hip issues but doubt I will regain my confidence. 

I am excited to find out that my BCBS coverage does extend outside the US so will have to follow their protocol to get a predetermination, etc.  I have found several sites that cater to Americans going overseas for medical procedures.  Have any of you used these services?  I really don't know what to call them, perhaps medical travel consultants??  And how can one tell if they are legitimate?  I have had some success searching them through the Better Business Bureau but many are newer companies so don't have a history of years to look into.


Please help me - I want to get all this behind me!!  :)

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you!!

Deb

PS.  I have been reading through your comments and questions and find them interesting and comforting as well...  :)

[Pat Walter]

Hi Deb

Welcome to Hip Talk.

I know many, many people that went to Dr. Bose.  He is one of the top hip resurfacing surgeons in the world.  Some people have gone to a handful of other surgeons in India, but personally after reading the Yahoo Surface Hippy Group of over 6000+ people for over 3 years - Dr. Bose is the only one I would choose.  I almost did, but decided to go to De Smet in Belgium instead.  Didn't want to face a 28 hour plane flight.

You don't need any kind of special service to go to Dr. Bose. You work right with his office and they will tell you what to do.  They make the hospital arrangements and then you book into a hotel that they tell you about.  You can book your own flight.  That's it.  Vicky Marlow has been to Dr. Bose and can help you with all the details. We are both getting ready for a week AAOS meeting in San Francisco and won't be posting too much.  After March 12, she will be able to help you more.

Searching for doctors is easy from my list  http://www.surfacehippy.info/listofdoctors.php  I have very few inexperinced doctors on it.  I had stats posted for each doctor.

Dr. Bose is a great surgeon and kind, caring person.  He has written many articles for my website and has tons of happy patients.

Good Luck and stay in touch.

Pat