Resources for finding the best Health Specialists..Doctors

[Kraniac]

I have a friend in need and I'm trying to help her track down some options for a Specialist. An experienced, up to speed specialist in the area of Spinal Stenosis..Both Surgical and Symptom based care. This issue is taking her down, big time.

Wondering if any of you have any resources, online or otherwise, for tracking down the best Doctors and Health Centers/Hospitals and their areas of known expertise?? etc, et, al..like that. Help..

Thought and input much appreciated

[Dennis S]

In the whole country or in her area?

[mjgkramer]

I am also in the early stages of spinal stenosis and I don't like what it does to me. If she is in my area (New Braunfels, just north of San Antonio) I would be interested in what she finds out.

[Lemon Drop]

Where does she live and does she have insurance and if so what hospitals are covered?

You can always type in the name of the condition and your city and state and see what you get, doesn't mean you can necessarily pay for that person or get a referral though.

Has she started with her primary doctor/internist? I assume yes because you're naming a condition. And they could not treat her? Because often they can. If surgery is needed she'd get referred to an orthopedist or neurosurgeon.

But her insurance company (she has insurance right?) probably wants her to start with the primary care person. Then she might be limited to specialists and hospitals in her coverage network, so a general, wide net search for a "top specialist" isn't going to be that helpful, unless there's something we don't know here.

[Dennis S]

If she is not limited by her insurance company:

• Google pubmed.com and see if a center comes to the forefront

• Google some of the doctors that are prominent on the pubmed searches and see where they are

• call the NIH and ask them where the best place in her area is

• call the biggest hospital in her area and ask them who they think is best

[Fritz]

US News and World reports just did a Best Hospitals issue.
Not that they are the be all and end all, but it might be worth picking up.


http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals

If in the NYC area, my wife might be able to offer up some ideas. She's a 30 year PT.

[lost in space]

+1 for NIH

[Lemon Drop]

Yes NIH has a section devoted to spinal stenosis, just for general info but no specific physician listings. A lot of generalists should be able to treat this, I think it's fairly common, right?

http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Spi...s_ff.asp#b

hope your friend finds some effective treatment very soon

[Buck]

I don't know if this is helpful but:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263496.php

[Kraniac]

Answering a few of your questions..

She has good insurance..no details on the plan but she is covered.

This is Southwestern Michigan-Near Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids etc.

She is willing to pursue this outside of her area if necessary.

Lemon Drop: Yes, she's already received a referral to a neuro person...Covering bases here because if the surgery route is followed it's important for this SS thing.

mjgkramer: Feel free to pm me anytime for updates or info thaqt we've sulled..ok?

Thanks folks, I read everything and appreciate the time you took to write, cool. Keep em coming if think of stuff..good to have these threads online for others that are googling the same issues.