Is the surgeon required to see his patient for post operative care? If there is an issue, how quickly should he or his office respond?
This is a great question! I ALWAYS see my patients post op. I think that is the mark of a responsible surgeon. I think it is also just as reasonable to be seen by another surgeon in the same practice as well as well being see by a midlevel provider such as an NP / PA for some post op visits as long as they are working in close supervision with the attending surgeon.
Be very wary of some of the practices out there that advertise a very low price "too good to be true price" I have had patients come from these places with horrible experiences where the first time they meet their surgeon is right before the operation and they don't see them post op.
Best wishes!
Hello, thanks for the interesting question. Most surgeons would agree that ethically and professionally we have a duty and obligation to take care of our patients before and after surgery. Some visits may be delegated to appropriate staff, but most surgeons want to see their postoperative patients to get feedback and ensure that a good result has been achieved. If there are issues that arise, the office should assess the issue as much as possible to give advice. But often the best way to determine if there is a significant issue is to have the patient come into the office.