-
Step 1
Ensure that your surgeon has received his or her M.D. or D.O. from an accredited school of medicine and has passed the national licensure examination set by your state to practice general medicine and surgery. The certificates of these credentials will be displayed on your surgeon’s office wall.
-
Step 2
Check whether your surgeon is board-certified in the field of open-heart surgery. Check lists of board-certified surgeons in the annual directory published by the ABMS (American Board of Medical Specialties), which can be found in many hospital libraries or medical-school libraries. You can also call your local county medical society to confirm your surgeon's specialty qualifications.
-
Step 3
See whether your surgeon adds the letters FACS after his or her name. The letters FACS (Fellow of American College of Surgeons) will ensure that your surgeon is board-certified and a member of the ACS.
-
Step 4
Verify whether your surgeon is approved to practice in accredited hospitals. Contact the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) to verify this information.
-
Step 5
Inquire about the number of open-heart surgeries your surgeon has performed in the past, and find out the frequency of such surgeries. With specialized surgeries, experience counts the most.
-
Step 6
Inquire about the success rate of past surgeries performed by your surgeon. You can check this record in the hospitals where the surgeries were performed.
-
Step 7
Find out anything you can about the reputation of your surgeon from family and friends. Ask the opinion of other surgeons in your area, if you know any, to ensure that your surgeon has a good reputation among other health specialists.
-
Step 8
Speak with some previous patients of your surgeon to find out about their experiences.
