Slight pain in the chest makes us concerned for our health and look for heart treatment. The reason can be varied, but we want the best for a heart check-up. It is never easy to find a good hospital. If the search is for choosing the best among all the heart hospitals, it becomes even more difficult. Which is the best hospital for the treatment of cardiac disorders? Will they be able to understand the ailment? Will we get there on time? How much will the hospital charge? These questions are in our minds. However, there are ways to make our search smoother. Let us understand them one by one.
- Look for the heart hospitals that treat many patients. A good hospital has an experienced team of heart specialists. They offer multiple types of heart treatment like pediatric cardiology, interventional cardiology, non-invasive cardiology, and cardiac bypass surgery. Moreover, look for the quality of pre and post-surgery treatment. It needs a lot of experience to have completed thousands of surgeries and other heart treatments. A hospital that has years of experience and expertise in heart treatment is worth shortlisting.
- A hospital primarily earns its reputation through its doctors. Heart surgeons practice in their area of expertise to gain more experience. Their precision in surgeries and the number of patients recovered speak for themselves. Moreover, you need to check if the hospital provides treatment for your gender and age group. Heart treatment cannot be the same for a newborn, a woman, a man, or a senior citizen.
However, knowing about their certifications, history of malpractice claims or other disciplinary actions always helps. You can check with your family physician, friends, or family for their recommendations. You can access this data through certain websites. To go a step further, you can check the cardiology institute and schools’ recognition and affiliation records. Additionally, the hospitals’ accreditation should also not be ignored.
- A good hospital generally means advanced treatments and facilities. That also indicates how much you have to pay for the treatment. For that, many people rely on their medical or health insurance. Therefore, it is important to check how many health insurance companies have tied up with those hospitals. Are the facilities and services included in your insurance policy? Checking all these details in advance not only cushions you from over-expenditure but also helps you prepare in advance. Many insurance providers offer different insurance plans for different genders and age groups. Keeping these factors in mind, you can always compare the insurance companies across websites. You should select the insurance policies that include the treatment for your existing or anticipated heart ailments. If you already have one, then try to increase it for your health cover according to your needs.
- Are those heart hospitals technologically updated? Are they equipped with the latest technology for treatment and surgeries? How much is their staff familiar with the latest upgrade? There are certain things like these that you need to know. The number of beds, labs, operation theaters, blood banks, 24×7 facilities at the ICU and NICU should be checked. The use of technology and modern equipment like Tissue Dopler imaging, X-matrix transducers, ECMO, etc, should be checked.
The distance between hospitals and your residence is also an essential factor for timely treatment. Therefore, check the availability of pre and post-surgery treatment in those hospitals. It is generally seen that the heart hospitals with good pre and post-surgery treatment have better survivals and recoveries.
- What do the other staff or the treated patients have to say about the facilities of the heart hospitals? When a patient gets admitted to the hospital, it is not only the doctor(s) he meets there. Hospital staff like nurses, technicians, dieticians, therapists, and junior doctors is the ones who contribute to your treatment needs.
They are the ones who constantly coordinate with the doctors. They can be a good source of information about the hospital(s) that you shortlisted. A happy staff is more efficient. A patient-oriented hospital will not compromise with their staff’s welfare. It cannot be the absolute parameter to check a hospital’s credibility; it can be an added advantage for your treatment.
Conclusion
While choosing the heart hospitals is not a piece of cake, your small efforts and step-by-step research can narrow your search. A little awareness and a responsible attitude can lessen the unknown risk of heart ailments. When you have shortlisted suitable hospitals, don’t hesitate to contact them to clear your doubts. By the time you finish your questions, you’ll have found the most suitable hospital for your heart treatment.
