AHSQC: Am Hernia Society Quality Collaborative

[Beenthere]

AHSQC: Am Hernia Society Quality Collaborative

This might not be the right place for this but my hospital that did my first hernia surgery is participating it the survey, my surgery and care was before the survey started. Came I get involved?

Second part which is a major concern for others to find a surgeon, is what qualification does it take to become a Americas Hernia Society member?

I did some cross checking and found it to be very interesting. I entered in my city on the AHS website and all the doctors that came up in my area were from the hospital that I had my first surgery done at. According to their website they do around 500 hernia surgeries per year with 11 doctors listed. Meaning around 50 per year per doctor. On their website from a few years ago they had an exit survey that the graduating residents filled out the survey that stated up to 90% of the surgeries were done by the residents. That would bring the actual number down below 10 hernia surgeries per year per doctor. Also from this hospital, they did a study that found 25% of their hernia patients had post hernia pain after one year between 2009-2010 and according to other doctors at their facility it was ongoing until 2012.

I than looked up each ones bio and found most had graduated in the last 3-6 years(very little experience). Not one listed hernia as a major aspect of their surgical interest, research or practice. I believe I also know which doctor on the staff is their director and he does not even state this on his bio. I than looked up the bios on Towfigh, Ramshaw, Yunis and Goodyear, what an interesting contrast. Their websites shows that they are really specialists in hernia surgeries. One Dr. stated he does around 650 hernia surgeries a year. How many has Dr. Goodyear done-15K plus?

Be very careful when selecting a specialist. Paying a yearly due to join a Society does not mean the doctor is a specialist. I also found in Dr Towfigh’s bio her CV. Never heard of that before but all doctors should provide this, I found it very interesting and informative.