Hi Pat. I want to recommend Dr. Robert Gilbert at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. When I first met him a month ago, he said he'd done 280 HRs, all BHRs, and he's been doing a few a week, so rapidly growing this part of his practice. He's known as a senior surgeon at CPMC and has won a "patient choice" award. I think he has been the head of orthopedics at CPMC. He hasn't advertised resurfacing operations as some docs do, but now he's doing LOTS of them. Right away he told me the number he'd done, the failures (2), the reasons why (femoral neck fractures, women), and what he did about them (both revised to THR successfully, keeping the acetabular cup). He uses spinal anesthesia, which worked very well for me.
He's no-nonsense -- precise, clear, concise, very focused in his demeanor, just what you want in a surgeon -- but I wasn't intimidated; he was friendly and available for questions. In fact after my first appointment he told me to call him because surely I'd have more questions after I reflected on everything. We ended up talking one evening, and though he's a busy man (he had done a few resurfacings that day) and I didn't want to dally, I felt I could ask all my questions.
He also told me how the operation itself worked, for instance how the bruising and swelling in my groin and inner thigh were from the machine that essentially squeezes my body when it's lying on its side so I'm held absolutely still as they do the operation. Afterwards I saw all kinds of lines drawn on me... this surgery is like geometry.
Also important is the overall surgical team. The nurse who pre-admitted me over the phone spent a ton of time was me and was so friendly. The anesthesiologist spent lots of time with me the morning of the surgery. The PA (?) who held my hand and steadied me as they did the spinal anesthesia was calming and gentle. The nurses during my 4 days post-op (at my request and surgeon's recommendation I stayed an additional day for more PT) were extremely attentive. I never had to wait more than a moment after ringing the call button. Really, every CPMC person I dealt with -- and there were a lot -- was terrific.
Two days ago, on a rainy Friday, Dr. Gilbert's assistant, Alisha, personally brought me a new prescription (for narcotics, so couldn't be called in) on her way home since she was driving to Berkeley to get her kids, so I wouldn't have to find someone to drive into San Francisco or wait the entire weekend for a different pain med.
When I walked into the operating room and looked around at the blinking machines, equipment, and several people preparing for the surgery, I thought WOW... I can see why this operation costs so much, and it's worth it... and I realized I would be so nervous if I didn't trust the surgeon and team. But I felt quite calm because I DID trust them all.
So, another suggestion for your list!
Berkeley Girl