Does anyone know or has had experiences with good surgeons in Southern California? I have encountered several that are just after a paycheck. Would love to hear your thoughts :)
Good DAy to you, My name is Kerri Leclair. I found out in Jan. after having a stroke that I have a 10cm. Bailar Tip anuerysm. My doctor,s at USC were fantastic with my intracranial bypass. The Neurosurgery Dept. at USC is outstanding!! They are only monitoring my anuersym as of now, because of where it is located. They will operate when it gets any bigger,moves,etc. I cannot emphasize to you how the Neurosurgery Dept. at USC saved my life. I live in the Antelope Valley and the Dr's here could not help me, except to refer me to USC Keck Medical Center. Thought I would share that with you!
One of the best out there. None of these guys are cheap!
http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Bios---Physician/A-G/Michael-J-Alexander-MD-FACS.aspx
Thank you all! This helps a lot. Do any of these surgeons accept medi-cal? We have been having an ongoing battle with the insurance company in hopes of receiving a better surgeon.
My craniotomy was performed by Dr. Schievink at Cedars. I was in the ER and then Neuro ICU, so I didn't get a chance to seek out a neurosurgeon of my choice, but nurses have told me that my wound looked very clean, and my parents adored Dr. Schievink. I didn't get to know him until my follow up appointments (his visits to my hospital room before surgery were always at ungodly hours, so at that time I wasn't a fan!) But he has been really great at spending time with me post surgery to help me understand what happened.
Not sure if he takes Medi-Cal, but his office staff is very helpful, if you give them a call to find out.
http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Bios---Physician/P-Z/Wouter-I-Schievink-MD.aspx
Hey, we are in central California, if you can travel Stanford Hospital is fabulous. Dr. Gary Steinberg.
My wonderful neurosurgeon was Dr. Johnny Delashaw who is now head of neurosurgery at UC Irvine.
Hi, I had an awesome surgeon at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla. I absolutely love him. He is very caring and never seems to be looking at you with $$$ signs in his eyes. I know you would love him too. He is very good at what he does.
Here is a link to his page at scripps. http://www.scripps.org/physicians/6651-rene-sanchez-mejia-md
He does all the different treatments himself.
~ Carol
UCLA is ranked #1 in SoCal by USNews for neurosurgery. #9 in the nation.
I look at it this way when I go to a dr - they are people, they put their pants on the same way I do, one leg at a time. I am their patient, paying for their service. I take a list of questions, usually on my phone now, but it used to be on a small pad. Sometimes I can be intimidating, but I’m not impressed or afraid of authority figures. (I am impressed with my Neurosurgeon. I hand her the phone she runs through the questions. The first couple times she said “I have all the answers 1 -I don’t know you just had brain surgery. 2. I don’t know, you had a 12.5mm ruptured aneurysm. 3. Remember 1 or 2 they are my and now your answers for two years.” God gave me a perfect match for my personality. Her team spoils me).
My theory is that most medical specialists are not good with people. It’s not what they went to school for. They went to school to become surgeons, or deal with pain, or whatever, not the psyche. They are not hand holders and most are not willing or able to put the emotional cost of attachment to a patient. I don’t blame them it can be _______(can’t think of word but it hurts and you question everything when someone dies) Some are uncomfortable at the first meeting or two, just like their patient. So they hide behind the medical speak and their confidence of what they perceive their ability. Some will keep up their professional boundaries to the point they appear indifferent. It is a protection tool for them. Some think more of themselves then they should, most just want to save lives. Some doctors are so overbooked or the hospital they work under allows only so much time, it is head spinning. If you go to a teaching hospital, the doctor has classes, surgery days and appointment days as well as being on call during the week or on weekends. Not to mention all the meetings doctors are involved with, or court. I know I’ve subpoenaed one or two in my day. Usually like me they were on telephone standby which makes things better and worse. You push through everything in case court calls.
Ask before you go how much time will you have with the doctor. Be prepared with your questions, concerns and fears. Let them know you are coming in with questions. What I want in a doctor is someone who will take their time and explain it to me. As well as a number to someone at the practice who can answer questions I forgot the answers (remember #3). I don’t want to feel like a steer in a butcher company getting pushed through the line. They are not your friends, but hopefully, they are the people who will save your life and become endearing to you.
Dr. Fiorella at stony brook university in NY they have good prices on hotels around the area
My neurosurgeon is Dr Ian Ross in Pasadena out of Huntington Hospital. Very to the point and informative about what was happening to me and what options I had. Started with an attempted coiling, but he determined it was too risky due to the shape. Even going in for a clipping he saw an issue with an additional sprout that the clipping didn't work for, so he wrapped it. That was 18 months ago. I have healed well and definitely feel very glad that I had him for my surgeries.
I would like to respond to your question about a good Neurosurgeon in So-Cal. I live in Ventura, after my rupture in October 2011, the ER Dr. at our local hospital spoke very highly of a Neuro in Santa Barbara. They sent me by ambulance to Cottage Hospital. I was very fortunate to have Dr. Zauner, everyone at the hospital said he was 'the best'. He place 9 coils in my rupture, I spent 2 wks in ICU & have followed up on all angiograms. I can't speak more highly of him. I would recommend him to anyone that needs an excellent surgeon.
Wishing you the best.
Ginger