How to get statistics on the experience of doctors

CatherineH
Offline

8 years 4 months ago #50084 by CatherineH

Replied by CatherineH on topic How to get statistics on the experience of doctors

Hi Laura... You can start by checking the annual U.S. News rankings of the top hospitals here:
Top Hospitals 2015-2016

You can click on various specialties for rankings in that category. There is a link for Urology.

You can also search for Doctors by location or name. It generally gives how long they have been in practice and any hospital affiliations. That link is:
Search for Doctors

After you narrow down a hospital that you may want to go to for treatment, go to their website and find the urology department. Many hospitals publish the CVs of their physicians. After choosing a physician, make your appointment and during your appointment, ask about his experience level with RCs. A professional and qualified doctor should not hesitate to readily provide this information to patients.

It can be a frustrating process. Good luck and I'm sure your dilligence and perseverance will pay off.

Best wishes... Catherine

TURBT 1/21/10 at age 55
Dx: T2aN0M0 Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma
Partial Cystectomy 2/25/10
Vanderbilt Medical Center
Nashville, TN

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

sara.anne
Offline

8 years 4 months ago #50073 by sara.anne

Replied by sara.anne on topic How to get statistics on the experience of doctors

You take the direct approach....you ask the doctor. He recommends a certain procedure and you ask him how many of these he does in a year. It is your business to find out. I am currently looking for a nearby garage to take my hybrid car for routine maintenance (dealer is a long distance away) so I call and ask how many cars like mine they handle. This is just good business policy.

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

LauraJose
Topic Author
Offline

8 years 4 months ago #50069 by LauraJose

How to get statistics on the experience of doctors was created by LauraJose

I value the repeated advice that I have seen in this Forum, urging people to find the most experienced doctors and the hospitals with a strong record of treating bladder cancer.

But how exactly do you find that out? I have searched on the web, but I am not finding any doctor specific or hospital specific information. I called CDC in Atlanta to see if they had records of how many patients with bladder cancer were treated at facility X during any particular year. They advised they did not.

I am thinking of calling my insurance carrier (Blue Cross and Blue Shield), asking what the billing code is for "radical cystectomy" and seeing if they can sort their "preferred providers" by how many billings of that code the doctor made in 2015. I think they will think I am nuts, but it seems like it would be a rather easy way to sort doctors who perform a lot of cystectomies.

Any help on how you have been able to locate information on a doctor's experience or on a hospital/facility focusing on bladder cancer, would be much appreciated.

Laura

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: Cynthia, eddiek, sara.anne

How to get statistics on the experience of doctors

Login