A number of issues can be taken into account when choosing an orthopedic clinic to select one most suited to a patient's needs. Some things to think about include travel time, accommodations if they are needed, types of services offered at the clinic, and the qualifications and experience of the care providers who work at the clinic. It can help to generate a list of concerns to use in narrowing down prospective clinics, allowing people to systematically identify the best one for their situation.
Some considerations involved in choosing an orthopedic clinic are purely practical. The location is important, as is accessibility. People going to such clinics may not be able to drive and should think about bus service and other transit options. For people traveling great distances, like patients in rural areas who need to go to a city for treatment, another issue might be the cost and availability of parking and accommodations while they are receiving treatments. Safety can also be an issue; if an orthopedic clinic is in a dangerous neighborhood, some planning may be needed to select the best times to visit.
Patients need to make sure the clinic will offer treatments they need. They can ask the clinic's staff questions about services offered, and can provide the clinic with information about their specific needs to see if the clinic can provide adequate care. If the clinic doesn't offer a specialty service, its staff may be able to refer the patient to another facility that does. People may want to think about adjunct services; if an orthopedic clinic has a physical rehabilitation facility or other services, it can be easy to take care of multiple medical appointments at the same place.
Examining the care providers at the clinic is another aspect of finding the best facility. Orthopedic doctors and surgeons should all be able to provide information about where they trained and how many years they have been in practice. Patients may want to look up the medical licenses of a prospective physician to make sure they are in good standing. Patients also can check the doctor's membership in professional organizations, which can be confirmed by looking up member lists. In addition, patients can also see if their doctors have any publishing credits.
People should also think about the areas of expertise the care providers are involved in. Someone with a sports injury to the hip, for example, wants to go to an orthopedic clinic where a primary care provider interested in hip care and sports medicine is available. Likewise, a person with an injury to the hand or foot should see a specialist in these areas. This will ensure a higher standard of care, as well as access to the latest treatment approaches.
