The Best Hospitals
An exclusive survey of more than 1,000 leading doctors yields 43 sources of top medical care
RESOURCES
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, (301) 496-5751. Information from the federal government. Self-help. Parkinson Support Groups of America, (301) 937-1545. ALS Association, (818) 340-7500. Spinal Cord Society, (218) 739-5252. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, (800) 624-8236. Alzheimer's Association, (312) 335-8700.
OPHTHALMOLOGY JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL (WILMER EYE INSTITUTE) BALTIMORE / 64 pct.
BASCOM PALMER EYE INSTITUTE (UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI) / 55 pct.
WILLS EYE HOSPITAL PHILADELPHIA / 42 pct.
MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY BOSTON / 35 pct.
UCLA MEDICAL CENTER (JULES STEIN EYE INSTITUTE) LOS ANGELES / 28 pct.
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HOSPITALS AND CLINIC IOWA CITY / 18 pct.
Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat disorders of the eye. Virtually all large hospitals have ophthalmology departments, but not all have a full complement of subspecialists. Separate eye institutes or clinics within or attached to larger hospitals are now common and generally indicate a higher order of expertise.
EXPERT'S VIEW
JOHN CLARKSON, chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami, Fla.: Ophthalmologists in a given geographical area usually know each other's areas of subspecialization. You want to find the doctor who handles your problem day in and day out and knows it cold. I also think the bigger departments are better, since they are more likely to have the most sophisticated technology, such as ophthalmic ultrasound machines to detect ocular tumors or the latest laser-beam equipment. Opthalmology is very much a technology-driven specialty. The people who work with this equipment all the time are the ones who are going to be able to give you the best care. For truly special needs, a person needs to get to the major hospitals or specialty eye clinics, where the support staff is trained to deal with patients with eye problems. That might include social support for those who have lost or are going to lose their sight.
RESOURCES
National Eye Institute, Box 2020, Bethesda, MD 20892. Basic information, lists of clinical trials. American Academy of Ophthalmology, 665 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA 94120. Basic information, lists of treatment centers. American Foundation for the Blind, (202) 457-1487. Information on programs for the visually impaired and blind.
ORTHOPEDICS HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY NEW YORK / 41 pct.
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL BOSTON / 35 pct.
MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER, MINN. / 29 pct.
DUKE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER DURHAM, N.C. / 22 pct.
JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL BALTIMORE / 19 pct.
CLEVELAND CLINIC / 16 pct.
Orthopedists perform bone and joint operations, such as total joint replacements, to correct conditions often caused by arthritis or osteoporosis. They also repair sports-related injuries to muscles. Sophisticated new techniques using screws and plates instead of a body cast have dramatically shortened recovery periods.
EXPERT'S VIEW
ANDREW WEILAND, surgeon in chief, Hospital for Special Surgery: There are a lot of questions that patients don't ask but should. They should ask about anesthesia, for example. About 90 percent of orthopedic surgery can be done under regional or local anesthesia, which is much safer than general anesthesia since the patient breathes on his own and there are fewer complications. Some patients don't even ask about rehabilitation, which is half the show. Patients should ask for details--what their rehabilitation program will be and how long it will be until they're walking without a cane or a crutch. A surgeon doing a lot of joint replacements, for example, should be able to tell patients how long it will take to get their strength back and when they'll be able to start playing golf again. It's also important to look for a sophisticated rehabilitation facility, with a large staff of certified physical therapists and all the fancy equipment. A rehabilitation facility that's not up to date can slow your progress.
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