From the DukeHealth.org archives. Content may be out of date.
Duke Health Publishes Surgeons' Expertise
Experienced Surgical Teams can Lead to Better Outcomes
Studies show that surgical teams and hospitals with more experience in a procedure tend to have better patient outcomes. In a pilot project, Duke Health has begun publishing information about its orthopaedic surgeons’ experience, to help you make an informed choice.
As of April 2017, many orthopaedic surgeons’ profile pages on DukeHealth.org now show the total number of procedures their surgical team has performed within the most recent two-year period. For example:
The profile pages also list the doctor’s surgical specialties and display a graphic showing which procedures the surgeon performs the most, broken down by type:
Make Informed Health Care Decisions
With these changes, when you search for an orthopaedic surgeon at DukeHealth.org, you’ll be able to identify -- and choose -- an expert in the procedure you need. You’ll also have an understanding of the doctor’s and surgical team’s level of experience before you even make an appointment or come in for a consultation.
Earlier, DukeHealth.org added patient ratings and reviews to doctor profiles. These include average star ratings as well as comments provided by authenticated patients in independent surveys. Adding these dimensions to doctors’ online profiles -- which also feature video introductions, biographies, and educational background -- is part of an effort to help you choose the care that’s right for you.
“These are key steps in making health care information more transparent,” said David E. Attarian, MD, FACS, chief medical officer of the Private Diagnostic Clinic, Duke’s multi-specialty faculty practice. “Our goal is to give you valuable and trustworthy information, in an easy-to-understand format, so you can make informed decisions about care for yourself or your loved ones.”
