Here's how

Public information from the American College of Surgeons

Most of us have some criteria for making important decisions in life. But suppose that your doctor recommends that you consider having an operation. How do you go about finding a qualified surgeon? If you or someone you know is considering elective surgery, you should be aware that there are some ways to objectively evaluate your surgeon. The American College of Surgeons—the largest international organization of surgeons in the world—recommends that you look for the following qualifications:

(1) Board Certification. A good indication of a surgeon's competence is certification by a surgical board that is approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). In order for a physician to become board certified in a surgical specialty, he or she must complete the designated years of residency training in that specialty, and then demonstrate his or her knowledge by successfully completing a rigorous examination. When you choose a surgeon who is certified by an ABMS-approved board, you select a physician whose specialty is in surgery.

(2) Practice in an accredited hospital or outpatient surgery center. Your surgeon will arrange for your operation to be performed in a hospital where he or she has staff privileges. It is a good idea to make sure that the hospital has been accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, a professionally sponsored program that stimulates a high quality of patient care in health care facilities. There is also an accreditation option that is available for ambulatory surgery centers.

If your operation is scheduled to be performed in one of these facilities, you can check to see if the center has been accredited by a nationally recognized organization such as the Joint Commission or the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. When a hospital or ambulatory surgery center has voluntarily sought accreditation, it is a good indication that the facility is committed to providing the best possible care for its patients.

(3) Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons. The letters FACS after a surgeon's name indicate that he or she is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Fellows of the College are almost always board-certified surgeons whose education, training, professional qualifications, surgical competence, and ethical conduct have been reviewed and evaluated and have been found to be consistent with the high standards of the American College of Surgeons.

Not all surgeons are accepted into Fellowship in the College. And there are some surgeons who may, for other reasons, choose not to become Fellows. However, the letters FACS after a surgeon's name indicate that he has volunteered to have his credentials and performance evaluated by his peers; they serve as an additional indication that a physician is competent to perform surgery, and that he has pledged to place the interest of his patients above his own.

Now that you know what qualifications to look for in selecting a surgeon, how do you check on those qualifications? In most cases, a surgeon who is board certified and/or a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons will have certificates verifying these credentials on display in his or her office. If not, another way is to simply ask the surgeon for his or her credentials yourself. Or you can phone your state or county medical association for assistance.

There is also a reference book—The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists—that lists all surgeons who are certified by approved boards. This publication also contains brief information about each surgeon's medical education and training, and it can be found in many libraries or through state and county medical associations. The ABMS Directory is also available on the Internet. If none of these resources are available to you, you can request a list of Fellows of the American College of Surgeons in your area by calling 312/202-5391; or you may refer to the Fellowship Database on the American College of Surgeons' Web site.

Remember, if you're considering an operation, make sure that the procedure is performed by a competent physician whose specialty is in surgery. It could be the most important decision you make.

If you are considering an operation, you may have further questions in these topic areas:

* Who should do your operation?

* Should you seek consultation?

* Giving your informed consent.

* What will your operation cost?