If you’ve been told you’re going to need orthopedic surgery, you’re going to need to find an orthopedic specialist or surgeon to do the procedure. Unfortunately, there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a surgeon. While some people may put cost and insurance coverage at the top of their list, that’s not all you should be thinking about. Surgery is very serious and you need to ensure you’re going to be in good hands. To help you get started with your search, we’ve compiled a list of a few factors to consider when looking for a surgeon.

Location: While the location of the orthopedic surgery center may not determine its value, it has to do with convenience. Depending on your condition, you may end up having to visit the orthopedic surgery center multiple times throughout the course of your treatment. Because of this, you’ll want an orthopedic surgeon that is close by in order to lessen the burden of having to travel. When choosing a surgeon, it’s important to consider the cost and convenience of follow-up visits.

Experience: When choosing a surgeon, you should consider how much experience they have. When meeting with potential surgeons, it’s important to ask how many surgeries they’ve done, how many were similar to theirs, and how often they perform surgery. Additionally, it’s important to understand their success rate as well as the method of surgery they will be using.

Certifications and Training: You want to ensure your orthopedic doctor has the proper licenses and certifications to allow them to practice in the state you’re in. This is not only a way to check the credibility of the surgeon, but a way to see how passionate they are about their job. If they go the extra mile to obtain additional training and certifications, then you’ll know they really care about being up-to-date on the latest medical technology and methods.

Emergency Services: While you may not want to think about what may go wrong during your surgery, it’s important to ask about emergency care services. Every surgery comes with risks and you’ll want to ensure the orthopedic surgery center is prepared to handle any emergency situation. When anesthesia is used, there’s always a chance that something unforeseen could go wrong with your heart and lungs. Unfortunately, in the United States, someone has a heart attack every 34 seconds. Because there is always a chance that something can go wrong, you just want to make sure you’re going to be in good hands.

Surgery can be scary, so it’s important to have a surgeon who is willing to take the time to talk to you about any questions or concerns you may have about your procedure. In the end, it’s important to trust your gut and go with the surgeon who makes you feel the most comfortable.