• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Virtual Clinic
  • Patient Portal
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Surgery Center
  • Self-Pay Pricing
Watauga Orthopaedics
Watauga Orthopaedics
  • Phone: (423) 282-9011
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Meet the Team
    • Meet Our Doctors
      • Alan Aiken, DO
      • Marc Aiken, MD
      • Jonathan D. Bryant, DO
      • D. Christopher Carver, MD
      • Robert J. DeTroye, MD
      • Parker P. Duncan, MD
      • Richard W. Duncan, MD
      • Tyler M. Duncan, DO
      • Jason A. Fogleman, MD
      • Jeffrey J. France, MD
      • Joseph R. Hurst, DO
      • Thomas W. Gill, Jr., MD
      • Timothy D. Jenkins, MD
      • Kent J. Lord, MD
      • Scott R. MacDonald, DO
      • Mark T. McQuain, MD
      • Eric D. Parks, MD
      • Dustin M. Price, MD
      • Gregory L. Stewart, MD
      • J. Michael Wells, MD
    • Meet Our Mid-Level Providers
    • Meet Our Therapists
  • Specialties
    • Spine/Neck/Back
    • Shoulder & Elbow
    • Hand & Wrist
    • Hip & Knee
    • Foot & Ankle
  • Treatments & Services
    • General Orthopaedics
    • Orthopedic Surgery
    • Sports Medicine
    • Trauma & Fractures
    • Joint Replacement
    • Walk-In Clinic
    • Imaging
    • Physical Therapy
    • DME/Orthotics
    • Work-Related Injuries
    • Non-Surgical Treatments
    • Pediatric Orthopedics
    • Robotic Surgery
  • In The Community
  • Locations
    • Johnson City
    • Kingsport
    • Bristol
    • Center for Advanced Bone and Joint Surgery
  • Patient Resources
  • Contact Us

Tips for Selecting an Orthopedic Surgeon

August 23, 2021

orthopedic surgeons looking at xray

If you have a musculoskeletal problem that warrants surgical intervention, the success of your procedure largely depends on the clinical acumen and skills of your orthopedic surgeon. Thus, it is crucial to find one who has the right combination of these essential attributes.

However, with the thousands of practicing orthopedic surgeons in the United States, searching for the right one for you can be challenging and time-consuming.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few tips to help streamline your search and make the decision-making process easier.

Ask for referrals.

If you have health insurance, it is best to ask your primary care physician (PCP) for a referral, as there are health insurances that do not cover the costs of health care unless patients obtain a referral from their PCPs.

If you don’t have insurance, you can also ask your family members, friends, and other people you trust for recommendations in addition to your PCP’s referral. You can also search the Internet for a reliable orthopedic surgeon within your area.

Consider location.

You may need to see your orthopedic surgeon several times after your surgery, so you will want to choose one whose office is close by to lessen your travel burden and ensure you can show up for your appointments.  

Check the surgeon’s credentials and background.

As with selecting any other type of healthcare professional with whom to entrust your care, board certification is a prime consideration when choosing an orthopedic surgeon. Board certification is a good gauge of competence and training and thus gives you the assurance that the physician you’re working with is qualified and knowledgeable.

You can verify the orthopedic surgeon’s board certification status using the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS).

Additionally, you can use the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) website to check whether the orthopedic surgeon has a clean track record— with no history of disciplinary action or malpractice cases.

Read reviews.

Reviews can help you decide with greater confidence and give you an idea of the quality of service you will get from the orthopedic surgeon and the staff.

Google My Business and Healthgrades are some of the tools you can access to learn about the online reputation of orthopedic surgeons. You can also find some on the practice’s website and/or their social media page.

Make sure to look for detailed ones, such as those that talk about wait times, treatment outcomes, ease of booking appointments, and staff friendliness.

Schedule an appointment with the surgeon.

When choosing an orthopedic surgeon, also consider their bedside manner and your compatibility with them in addition to their skills and competence. One foolproof way to ascertain these is to make an in-person appointment.

The right one will take the time to listen to and understand your concerns, make you feel at ease, explain your treatment options in words you perfectly understand, and truly care about the outcome of your treatment and your overall health.

Pay attention to the doctor’s body language and communication style.  If you are comfortable talking to them and confident that they can deliver your desired outcome, they are likely the one you want to establish a relationship with.

Orthopedic Surgeon Near Me in Johnson City, Kingsport, or Bristol, TN

At Watauga Orthopaedics, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons are recognized experts in the northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia communities, providing unparalleled care for the residents for more than seven decades. When you get seen by one of our orthopedic surgeons, you can rest assured that you are under the care of a highly experienced doctor who is genuinely concerned about your health and overall well-being and committed to giving you an exceptional treatment outcome.

For any inquiries or to arrange a consultation with one of our orthopedic surgeons, contact us at (423) 282-9011. You may also use this link to request an appointment. We look forward to serving you!

Filed Under: Orthopedic Surgeon Tagged With: orthopedic care near me, Orthopedic Clinic Bristol, Orthopedic Clinic Johnson City, Orthopedic Surgeon Johnson City TN, Orthopedic Surgeon near me, Orthopedic Surgeons Kingsport TN

Primary Sidebar

August 2021
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Jul   Sep »

Categories

  • Arthritis
  • Back Pain
  • Bone Health
  • Broken Bone
  • Facet Block
  • Fracture
  • General
  • General Orthopedics
  • Hand Dislocations
  • Hand Therapist
  • Herniated Discs
  • Hip
  • Hip Fractures
  • Hip Pain
  • Knee Pain
  • Lumbar Pain
  • Meniscal Tear
  • Neck Pain
  • Nerve Damage
  • Orthopedic Doctor
  • Orthopedic Injury
  • Orthopedic Surgeon
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Orthopedic Urgent Care
  • Orthopedics
  • Orthopedist
  • Pediatric Orthopedics
  • Physical Therapy
  • Shoulder & Elbow
  • Sports Medicine
  • Tendonitis
  • Work Injuries
  • Wrist Pain

Tags

Arthritis back pain bones Chronic Pain Fractures Hip Fractures joint pain Low Back Pain lumbar pain Musculoskeletal Injuries orthopedic orthopedic care orthopedic care near me Orthopedic Clinic Johnson City orthopedic clinic Johnson City TN orthopedic clinic near me Orthopedic Doctor Orthopedic doctor Bristol TN Orthopedic doctor near me Orthopedic Injuries orthopedic physical therapy Orthopedics Orthopedic Surgeon Orthopedic Surgeon Johnson City TN Orthopedic Surgeon near me Orthopedic Surgeons Kingsport TN Orthopedic Surgeons near me orthopedic surgery orthopedist pain Pediatric Orthopedics Pediatric Orthopedist Physical therapist near me Physical therapists near me physical therapy Physical Therapy Bristol TN Physical Therapy Johnson City physical therapy Johnson City TN Physical Therapy Kingsport Physical Therapy Kingsport TN Physical therapy near me Physical Therapy Services physical therapy services Bristol TN physical therapy services near me Watauga Orthopaedics

Footer

woman checking her laptop with smile

BLOG

Get the latest news and information about research and advancements in orthopedic sports medicine, as well updates about our practice, with our exclusive blog.

Learn More

Patient Stories

As a well-established and respected part of the northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia communities, Watauga Orthopaedics often receives glowing reviews from our patients for the exceptional personalized service we provide. Here are just a few of our favorite testimonials:

View All
Interior Patient Stories

Patient Reviews

Want to know what others had to say about their experience with us? Visit your Watauga Orthopaedics provider profile to read the reviews.

Read Our Reviews

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Specialties
  • Treatments & Services
  • In The Community
  • Patient Education
  • Blog
  • Patient Portal
  • Web Portal
  • Locations
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Non-Discrimination Policy
  • Employee Email Login
  • Accessibility Statement
  • HIPAA Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

JOHNSON CITY ORTHOPAEDICS OFFICE
2410 Susannah Street | Johnson City, TN 37601
Physical Therapy Office: 2412 Susannah Street | Johnson City, TN 37601
Phone: (423) 282-9011
Fax: (423) 282-0035
Appointments: M-F: 8 am – 5 pm
Walk-In Clinic:
M-F, 8 am – 8 pm
Sat: 8 am – 5 pm | Sun: 1 pm – 5 pm
Virtual Clinic:
M-F: 8 pm – 10 pm | Sat-Sun: 5 pm – 10 pm

KINGSPORT ORTHOPAEDICS OFFICE
875 Larry Neil Way | Kingsport, TN 37660
Phone: (423) 282-9011
Fax: (423) 282-0035
Appointments: M-F, 8 am – 5 pm
Walk-In Clinic: M-F, 8 am – 8 pm
Virtual Clinic:
M-F: 8 pm – 10 pm | Sat-Sun: 5 pm – 10 pm

BRISTOL ORTHOPAEDICS OFFICE 
340 Steeles Road | Bristol, TN 37620
Phone: (423) 282-9011
Fax: (423) 282-0035
Appointments: M-F, 8 am – 5 pm
Walk-In Clinic: M-F, 8 am – 8 pm
Virtual Clinic:
M-F: 8 pm – 10 pm | Sat-Sun: 5 pm – 10 pm

Copyright © · Watauga Orthopaedics · All Rights Reserved
iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

At Watauga Orthopaedics, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons are experts in treating injuries and conditions of the Spine/Neck/Back, Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip & Knee, Joint Replacement, Pediatric Orthopaedics, Shoulder & Elbow, Sports Medicine, Trauma & Fractures, and Work-Related Injuries. We offer multiple treatments and services in Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol, TN.