Who is a surgeon?
As a medical professional, a surgeon can diagnose and treat conditions that necessitate surgical intervention or physiological alterations. Surgeries can be performed for various reasons, from diagnosing diseases to treating severe injuries. The vast knowledge required to perform surgeries includes anatomy, emergency medicine, intensive care, metabolism, pathology, immunology, nutrition, shock and resuscitation, physiology, and wound healing. A surgeon's responsibility is to provide comprehensive surgical care to their patients, which encompasses making a diagnosis, managing preoperative, operative, and postoperative patient care, and performing surgical treatments on various systems in the body, such as the alimentary tract, abdomen, pelvis, skin, breast, soft tissue, and the endocrine system.
In general surgical practice, roles and responsibilities may vary depending on the setting. For example, surgeons who work in rural centers may perform a variety of surgeries, such as gynecologic, orthopedic, urologic, or ENT surgeries. Those working in academic settings, on the other hand, may focus on a specific subspecialty. The duties of a general surgeon can include time in the operating room, emergency department, office, and intensive care unit. To excel in this field, a surgeon must possess excellent communication, collaboration, teaching, research, healthcare management, and continuing professional development skills.
Surgeons are leaders in the operating room, heading a team of healthcare professionals to guarantee a successful procedure. They utilize state-of-the-art surgical instruments such as lasers, ultrasounds, radiation, scalpels, probes, and needles to alter or move live tissue. The expertise required in this field is extensive, but the potential to make a difference in a patient's life is immeasurable.
Education, training, and subspecialties for surgeons
To become a surgeon, you must complete an undergraduate pre-medical program that includes chemistry, biology, and physics courses. After that, you'll need to take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), a standardized exam administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges, and complete four years of medical school to earn an M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). While both programs are similar, earning a D.O. degree will better prepare you to treat bone and joint disorders.
After medical school, you must enroll in a surgical residency, typically lasting five years but taking up to 8-9 years to complete. The first year of your residency is called the intern year, while the next 3-4 years will focus on general surgery. However, general surgery covers a wide range of surgical procedures. Many surgeons complete additional training to specialize in a specific condition or surgical technique. These subspecialties include oral and maxillofacial surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, bariatric surgery, colorectal surgery, orthopedic surgery, pediatric surgery, vascular surgery, plastic surgery, and neurosurgery. You'll need an additional 2-3 years of residency training to specialize in any of these subfields.
Finally, you must pass a licensing exam before you can practice. Doctors with an M.D. must take the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), while D.O. surgeons can also take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam (COMLEX). Although certification from the American Board of Surgery (ABS) is not required, but it can increase your chances of employment.
What are the different types of surgeries and surgeons?
There are two types of surgeries: open and minimally invasive. During an open surgery, a surgeon makes an incision in the patient's skin to access the internal organs. On the other hand, minimally invasive surgeries require smaller entry points to repair or take tissue samples. Generally, minimally invasive surgeries require a shorter recovery time than open surgeries. However, not every surgery has a minimally invasive option.
Different body areas require different types of surgeons, each using specific techniques to ensure successful surgery.
- General surgeons are the most common type and operate on various conditions that may affect almost any body part.
- Patients with intestinal issues are advised to consult a colon and rectal surgeon.
- Neurosurgeons deal with disorders related to the brain and nervous system.
- Obstetricians and gynecologists specialize in pregnant women, delivery, postnatal care of babies, and conditions related to the female reproductive system.
- Ophthalmologists are eye doctors who perform surgical procedures to correct vision problems.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons operate on the head, neck, face, and jaw.
- Plastic surgeons specialize in cosmetic surgeries, repairs, replacement, and body reconstruction.
- Orthopedic surgeons are consulted for issues related to the musculoskeletal system, including bones, muscles, joints, arteries, associated nerves, and overlying skin.
- ENT surgeons or otolaryngologists specialize in ear, nose, and throat-related issues.
- Pediatric surgeons specialize in operating on children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers.
- Thoracic, cardiac, or cardiothoracic surgeons operate on the heart and other chest organs.
- Urologists specialize in operating on the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, urethra, and testes.
Seven tips for choosing the right surgeon
When considering a surgical procedure, find a surgeon near you who makes you feel confident and comfortable. Here are seven tips to guide you:
1. Get referrals from healthcare colleagues
Ask for recommendations from people who work in healthcare—nurses, physicians, and other hospital staff. Their insights can help you build a list of reputable surgeons, which you can research further.
2. Verify insurance coverage
Even if a surgeon or hospital accepts your insurance, they may not be part of your plan's preferred provider organization (PPO) or health maintenance organization (HMO) network. Contact your insurance provider and the surgeon's office to confirm coverage and avoid unexpected expenses.
3. Consider independent vs. hospital-employed surgeons
Independent surgeons might have more flexibility in referring you to specialists or facilities that best suit your condition, while those within hospitals may be limited to specific settings.
4. Research the surgeon's background
When researching multiple surgeons, here's what to check:
- Board certification: Check whether a surgeon is board-certified (has completed specialty training and certification exams) or board-eligible (has finished training but hasn't yet passed the certification exam).
- State licensing: Visit the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) to check if the surgeon is licensed in your state.
- Procedure volume, ratings, and complication rates: This data can be adjusted based on patient demographics, helping you understand a surgeon's experience and outcomes for patients with similar needs.
5. Read reviews and talk to previous patients
Patient reviews can provide insights into their experiences with a surgeon and to understand the latter's approach better. Feel free to ask for references from them.
6. Ask detailed questions during consultation
Once you've shortlisted surgeons, go into consultations with these key questions:
- What testing is necessary before surgery?
- Is this procedure essential, and are minimally invasive options available?
- Are you board-certified, and how often do you perform this procedure?
- What complications and risks have you encountered?
- Which hospitals do you work with, and what are their infection rates?
7. Check hospital affiliations and facility ratings
Choose a hospital with high safety standards, low infection rates, and good patient outcomes. Confirming that the facility is well-suited for your specific procedure can also increase your comfort level.
Following these tips will help you find a qualified surgeon near you who meets your expectations and provides the support you need throughout your surgical journey.
How to find the best general surgeon in Seattle, WA?
If your symptoms worsen with time, your healthcare provider may recommend you consult a surgeon. Surgery is an exhaustive and crucial process, so choosing a suitable surgeon will help you make a difference. Zocdoc provides a platform to make this journey more accessible by finding the best surgeons in your area who also accept your insurance plans.
You must enter your location (Seattle, Washington), specialty (surgeons), and preferred appointment date to find top-ranking doctors. Furthermore, you can save money by going for an in-network provider if you have a health plan. You can include your insurance carrier's name on the website search, and Zocdoc will show you the best surgeons who accept your health plan.
At Zocdoc, the patient-doctor connection is taken very seriously. We provide an open directory of the best medical and healthcare providers matching all your requirements. Each profile of our healthcare professionals is unique and will consist of their educational qualifications and board certifications. The website also provides details about expertise, experience, and gender preferences. Before visiting a doctor, you can make an informed decision by looking at our provider profiles, user ratings, and verified reviews.
When booking an appointment on Zocdoc, you'll be asked to provide your insurance details or confirm if you'll be paying out-of-pocket. Certain providers may need insurance information beforehand to confirm the appointment. However, if you prefer not to share insurance details or plan to pay independently, you can search for a provider on Zocdoc that meets your preferences. For more queries, you can visit the Zocdoc patient help center page.
Booking appointments with general surgeons on Zocdoc is straightforward, safe, and 100% free!
Health statistics of Seattle, WA
In May 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that there were nearly 820 surgeons employed in Washington. In contrast, there were approximately 26,370 surgeons employed in the United States. Moreover, an estimated 520 surgeons were employed with a 0.17 rate in the metropolitan area of Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2021, the leading causes of death in Washington were cancer, heart disease, COVID-19, accidents, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease, diabetes, and chronic liver disease/cirrhosis. The drug overdose death rate was nearly 28.1 per 100,000 in Washington.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
verywell health
WebMD
The Surgery Group
