One’s decision to undergo any major orthopedic surgery is a vital one and not to be trifled with. The rest of one’s life depends on the outcome of the surgery. So, what are the elements that go in making the outcome of the surgery a desired one?
The first and foremost thing to check up on is the surgeon who is going to undertake the replacement treatment; thereafter, comes the device that is going to be used, the hospital where the operation is to be conducted, and the trust, rapport and comfort level you have with the surgeon and the support staff. Listed below are the sources from where one can gather data to choose the best orthopedic surgeon for their surgery.
Information in public domain
Studies have shown that the more the surgeon does a particular type of surgery, the greater is his success rate. A surgeon who does at least 12 operation a year has good success rates. The best surgeon would, however, be doing far more. The general shift of the public and the atmosphere towards transparency has made this information available in the public domain. This information as well as the profiles of surgeons are available on various web sites that specialize in these matters. Institutions like accreditation agencies, colleges, certification boards, etc. all put the information of public importance on the web, even including statistics and data for negligence and disciplinary action taken, among others.
People sources of information
The hunt for any surgeon starts at the primary health provider such as general physicians. He would certainly know who are the leading orthopedic surgeons in the area and the surgeons to whom he refers his more complicated cases. The health workers and pharmacies in the neighborhood are also a virtual gold mine of information. The insurance company is another good source. It has an added advantage in that one would know who are the doctors in their panel. One can also learn about surgeons from anyone in the family, the extended family, friends and one’s acquaintances.
Surgeon qualifications and certifications
The surgeon, other than being qualified, should have additional board-certified qualification in his particular specialty. The three boards of certification that one should usually look for are:
- American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
- American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons
- American Medical Association
One can also inquire about centers of excellence in the locality. After shortlisting, one can fix up appointments with each surgeon. During the interaction, observe if the surgeon clears all your doubts and the confidence and the rapport you develop with them. Similarly, observe the conduct of the support staff and decide the surgeon and the clinic for your surgery. Location matters in that it should be convenient for you to go for all follow ups.
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Diagnosis and treatments of multiple sclerosis
Read moreThere are no specific diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. The general approach is to test for usual diseases that have similar symptoms and eliminate the likely conditions. A diagnosis is then arrived at by elimination of the common conditions that mimic MS. This method of diagnosis is often employed to diagnose difficult diseases and the technique is called differential diagnosis. It is very important to get a detailed clinical history. This helps the doctor to eliminate many diseases and concentrate on a few. A blood test is done to confirm the results help to avoid similar diseases. Specific markers of specific antibodies for MS in the blood is being developed. This help in diagnosis.
Another test is analyzing the spinal fluid for markers which are specific to different infections and illnesses producing similar symptoms like MS. The tests can also indicate abnormal antibodies associated with MS. The spinal fluid is tapped by inserting a needle into the spinal canal and drawing a small quantity of the fluid.
MRI is an advanced imaging technique using magnetic forces. MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Often a contrast material in injected intravenously which helps to identify the lesions in the brain and on the spinal cord.
Evoked potential test, which records the signal the nerves produces on the application of stimuli. The stimuli can be an electrical impulse applied to the legs and the speed with it is transmitted is recorded by electrodes. Alternately it may be a moving visual pattern that is used.
These advanced tests are used in cases with peculiar symptoms or progressive disease. The more common MS with relapsing-remitting symptoms is fairly straightforward.
Treatment for MS involves treating the symptoms, checking the progress of the condition and managing the symptoms. Rare people has only very mild symptoms and do not warrant any treatment.
Medicines are prescribed to reduce inflammation and some can have side effects like hypertension, sleeplessness, mood swings and fluid retention. Medicines should be taken only on prescription by a specialist. Plasma exchange or plasmapheresis is also employed in some cases, in which the patient’s blood cells are separated from the plasma, mixed with a protein solution (albumin) and transfused.
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3 most inexpensive online trademark services
Read moreA trademark can be a name, tagline, or logo to give a unique identification to your product or business. Trademarks are a valuable part of the intellectual property owned by a business, which helps in distinguishing goods and services in the same business sector.
The cheapest way to get a trademark is to design and register one for yourself. It is recommended to get assistance when working with trademarks because a small error in registration and research can result in conflict from another party. There are online trademark search and registration services, which are cheaper alternatives to hiring a local trademark attorney, and can help you with efficient registration. Mentioned below are three online trademark services that are the cheapest ways to get a trademark.
LegalZoom
Established in 2001, the online trademark service is a reasonable alternative to hiring an attorney for your trademark. It allows you to choose from Basic and Complete coverage plans that are priced at $199 and $219 respectively. The complete coverage also provides color adjustment, digitization, and compilation of your trademark specimens, a feature that not every trademark service provides. LegalZoom is also highly rated due to its ease of use, and easy-to-understand questionnaires to gather necessary information. Moreover, it allows you to check the status online anytime, and provides assistance through call or email.TrademarkPlus
It is one of the most popular and cheapest ways to get a trademark for your business. Average Trademark search and registration packages range from $199 to $399 while TrademarkPlus charges between $49 and $149. The trademark service claims to process any trademark search within one business day of receiving application materials. TrademarkPlus helps in identifying similar trademarks that may cause conflict, thereby avoiding the likelihood of application rejection. Its trademark watching service helps protect your business by monitoring your trademark at the national, federal state, or international level. You’ll also get an alert if anyone attempts to use a similar mark.Trademark Engine
Another cheap way to get a trademark is to opt for Trademark Engine. It can be a good choice to trademark your intellectual property of your business. Its basic registration package starts from $99. The Standard Package includes Transfer/Assignment template and six months of trademark monitoring for $149. The Deluxe Package gives you a full year of trademark monitoring and 24-hour processing time for $199. Trademark Engine can also let you perform free trademark search of pending and even live trademarks. It also has its own learning center where it provides answers to various trademark and copyright related questions.