How do I find a heart rhythm doctor?
There are several ways to find a heart rhythm doctor. The first would be to ask your primary care doctor or, if you have one, your cardiologist. Secondly, the Heart Rhythm Society can be contacted on-line to give you names of doctors in your area using this link, and enter “any” when asked for specialty. Not all of these doctors will necessarily be experts in ablation, but they all should be experts in arrhythmia management. Thirdly, talk to your friends – they may have seen an electrophysiologist and can tell you first hand about them. Lastly, you could call large hospitals or medical schools in your area and ask whether any electrophysiologists are on staff.
How do I find a doctor experienced in ablation?
Do you have advanced tools in case my ablation is complicated e.g. 3D mapping systems (Carto or ESI) and a cryoablation system? (a fully equipped facility is important!) If not, are you sure you will not need those tools?
If quoted risk is different, find out why?
Will I be put out (general anesthesia) and if so, will either a CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist) or anesthesiologist (an MD or DO) do that part of things? (the electrophysiologist doing the ablation needs to be free to concentrate on the ablation).
Doctors should not be defensive about answering these questions. If they are, find another doctor – this is about your life, not their ego. Some doctors could ask one of their patients who has had your type of ablation to contact you to tell you what it was like.