Warren B. Seiler III, MD
John Di Saia, MD
Beatriz H. Porras, MD
Shervin Naderi, MD, FACS
Edward Zimmerman MD
Paula Di Marco Young, BS RN
Seth A. Yellin, MD FACS
Dr. Kevin D. Light
Stephen Weber MD PhD
Brian K. Sidella
Sabine Zenker, MD
Daniel Kaufman MD
Brian Howard MD FACS
Mickey A. Couvertier
Lila Bratani MD
Alex Denes MD FACP
6 CommentsMedspa Specialist
If I need heart surgery, I can find the world's best heart surgon. If I need an actinic keratosis looked at, I can find the best dermatologist. If I need SEO help, get me the world's best SEO person. If I need breast implants, I can find the best breast implanter in my area. Not the second-best or someone who will try really hard or someone who is pretty good at that and also good at other things. Sure, there are times when a diagnostician with wide-ranging experience is important (but I'd argue that that's a specialty in and of itself).
When choice is limited, you want a generalist. When selection is difficult, a jack of all trades is just fine.
But whenever possible, you will choose a brilliant specialist.
If you're shaking your head in agreement with this obvious point, then the question is: tell me again why you're a generalist?
Reader Comments (6)
I'm not so sure that you would be able to find the world's best heart surgeon or plastic surgeon, Jeff. You would be able to find someone else's opinion of whom the world's best heart surgeon or plastic surgeon is - but that's not exactly the same thing, is it?
For example, the rankings of the "best" U.S. hospitals are similarly controversial - what ends up on one "best" list has ended up on someone else's "worst" list. It all depends on the search criteria & methodology.
TF has a valid point if there was actually a vote or have met certain criteria. Most "best lists" are paid advertising. Especially in local market print advertising.
Of course 'best' is completely subjective. My point is that by whatever criteria you define it, you'll choose what you perceive to be the best.
As long as the provider is competant and does a good job, you usually don't need the best.
In certain circumstances you do need the best. For example, in the seventh game of the world series, you need the best players, not just good players.
For a routine melanoma, you just need a good derm. If it metasticises, you need the best for the chemo etc.
You find the best by word of mouth and by seeing who is a professor at Harvard, Penn, etc
I think people look to the best for "specialty" or unique items, after awhile many people "commoditize" a item--like washing machines and Botox in many areas. You have to think, if you're going to inject 200 units of Botox a week, what makes more business sense being the lowest price or the highest? If you're the highest,patients have to feel its worth the difference (experience, ambiance); if you're not the absolute lowest,it makes no sense. I say be Wal-Mart or be Saks.
True, look at St. Joseph's hospital they were said to be one of the best until recent events had doctors being sued over operation on the wrong side of the body. Basically a person would go into surgery for their right knee and come out with the left knee having been worked on. The best of something is strictly an opinion.