Take your health seriously
Before making a surgical decision you must have all the necessary information. Make sure that your personal details are correct on all the forms to avoid identity errors. Fill out your chart with the details of your GP and medical correspondents you would like to keep informed.
The first consultation
When you come the first time in consultation, make sure to describe your symptoms. You are the only person who can do it; it is essential to establish the correct diagnosis.
Dr Dubert regularly evaluates the results of his surgeries and this necessitates an accurate preoperative assessment. You will be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your upper extremity disability during your first consultation.
Emergencies and delay consultation
The Hand department is one of the most active Hand Trauma Centres in France.
Emergencies cannot be scheduled, which can sometimes lead to organizational difficulties. However everything is done to avoid delays. Emergencies are managed by another hand surgeon during the consultations and operating lists. In case of an exceptional delay, you will be informed as soon as possible.
The Hand department is a research centre
In addition to the care activity, the department is involved in scientific and education tasks. The goals are to measure the outcome of surgery and to participate in research and improvement of techniques.
– You may be asked to fill out health questionnaires
– You may be invited to come back in consultation several months or years after surgery for outcome measurement.
If you do not wish to participate in clinical research, do not hesitate to inform the Doctor Dubert. This contribution is not mandatory, but it contributes to the quality of your care.
The Hand department is also a teaching centre
The teaching activity may require the presence of young surgeons during the consultations and in the operating room.
These young surgeons are not allowed to operate. Dr Dubert always performs the entire surgery himself, he is the only one to take decisions and perform operative procedures.
If you don’t feel comfortable with the presence of a student, do not hesitate to report it to the secretary or Dr Dubert.
Make sure your problem fits the expertise of the department
Surgeons are increasingly specialized. You must be sure that your problem is located in the right anatomical region. Dr Dubert is an orthopaedic surgeon, specialized in upper extremity, hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder.
If a surgery is planned
Check carefully all preoperative documents. Check the spelling of your name, date of birth, the title and side of the surgical procedure. Side errors are extremely rare but should never happen. With your surgeon, you must help reduce their occurrence to 0.
Carefully observe the required preparation and in particular the fasting instructions, cleansing the skin to prevent infections and smoking cessation.
Ask any questions about your surgery
You are entitled to know the objectives, limitations and risks of the procedure. Ask any questions until you feel fully informed. It is also important to know what to do in case of complications; prompt treatment can often minimize the consequences.
Freely choose the date of your surgery
The choice of date may have a role in the outcome of an intervention. Take into consideration postoperative down time especially before returning to manual work. Periods of emotional stress or work environment should also be taken into account. Sometimes it is better to postpone the intervention for a few weeks. Talk with your surgeon and possibly take the advice of a health counsellor or psychologist (Network for Prevention of hand injuries).
Health cost
If your surgeon is in sector 2 there will be fees. As you must be prepared mentally and physically, you need to be organized financially. It is normal that health care has a cost; it is normal for you to talk freely with your surgeon before surgery.
Free fees vary between 23 euros and 90 euros for consultations and between 100 and 1500 Euros for surgery.
Thank you for your understanding.