Tools And Resources To Locate HS Dermatologists, Surgeons, & Other Medical Professionals
Within this resource article, you’ll discover a robust health technology database, a direct links to the HS Foundations HS Specialty Clinics and TONO Health (virtual dermatology). I’ll also cover the basics of databases, demonstrate with a few helpful videos, and provide some useful tips.
I'll start with Medifind, a database where you can search for dermatologists, surgeons, and other medical professionals who specialize in treating Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Later on, I will go into more detail about them.
This tool works great on your phone or computer. Registration is fast, easy and doesn’t cost anything. Its worth it because it grants you full access. Register HERE
You can choose to use your existing Google or LinkedIn account, or create a new MediFind account.
What you’ll discover
When you search for Hidradenitis Suppurativa, you’ll find elite, distinguished, advanced, and experienced, dermatologists, surgeons and other medical professionals.
The bios contain contact info, research, publications, and other interests, giving you thorough details about each healthcare professional, so you can make an informed choice.
Their database considers various factors including published articles, clinical trial participation, conference speaking engagements, prescription and referral patterns, and professional connections.
Below are ways to quickly utilize the database and a couple of handy pointers (videos can be restarted & paused)
You can search for doctors a few ways: by specialty, condition, expertise, and by name. And a location.
See attached video clip demo
My advice If you see prompts, I recommend skipping them and leaving the filters as they are. By doing this, you’ll come across listings for dermatologists, surgeons, nurse practitioners, GPs, and additional specialists. By limiting your search to dermatology, you’ll only find results related to that field. That’s totally fine, just make note of it. Additionally, I suggest keeping the filter option for “accepting new patients” open as well.
A quick demo on how to use the filter section to narrow down your search, such as for General, Plastic Surgeons, or Dermatologists
Note and helpful tips:
- Those outside the USA. I looked into various countries and discovered numerous specialists, including the experts in the HS wheelhouse. I hope you find this tool helpful as well. Please consult the referral guidelines specific to your country.
- Even if a place states that they are “not accepting new patients”, don’t hesitate to give them a call and ask (double check).
- If a HS doctor is not categorized as elite, distinguished, advanced, you may want to verify their knowledge about HS by calling and double-checking. At times, "experienced" means minimal involvement or just starting out. It’s fine, but it’s worth checking if it’s significant to you.
- Always double-check whether a medical professional found online (anywhere) is still active or associated with a specific university or clinic. Things are always changing.
So what is MediFind?
Patrick Howie, the CEO, experienced the challenges of finding top-notch experts and treatments when his brother was diagnosed with a rare cancer. And MediFind was founded in February of 2020.
MediFind focuses is on using advanced analytics to assist patients, especially those with serious, chronic, and rare illnesses, in finding improved care more quickly. They were chosen as a finalist for the prestigious Vesalius Innovation Award (by Karger) and identified as a Top 25 Startup (by Sierra Ventures). They formed partnerships with multiple prominent advocacy organizations as well. See more about them in reference section below if interested.
You can watch their YouTube intro HERE
Please Note Below
While MediFind has a database total of 3.5 million providers, not all doctors meet the necessary criteria for their expertise evaluation algorithms. Clinicians who are new or have limited experience with HS may not be included in this database (right now). Just because they haven’t reached the required level to be added to the database doesn’t mean they aren’t good clinicians. Don’t switch doctors just because they aren’t listed if you’re happy with them.
HS Specialty Clinics
Check out the HS Foundations HS Specialty Clinics HERE. Categorized by state, with a few international ones included.
Virtual Option - TONO Health for Dermatology
Visit TONO HERE
Signing up is simple. Just click the link, select your state, and follow the prompts to get started. Even if your state is not listed I encourage you to sign up so you're notified when they become available.
This service is especially helpful for those who may not have access to a specialist in their area or are facing long wait times to receive care. With Tono, you can schedule a video visit with an experienced dermatologist within one week to receive a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan. They work with major insurance companies, including Blue Cross, United, Aetna, Cigna, and Humana. You can also call their office at (917) 382-0901 to ask about specific coverage. If your insurance plan doesn’t include their doctors, they can provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance for reimbursement.
Please Note: Tono currently operates in 23 states. They plan to add more states in the future, so if you live in a state that’s NOT currently available, you can sign up and message a care coordinator to be added to their waiting list for when they expand to YOUR area. *They do not deliver care internationally, but patients visiting the U.S. can receive care while in a supported jurisdiction.
I hope you find this resource article useful. It’s impossible to create a list or resources that suits everyone perfectly. I hope that by offering various options to connect with medical professionals who can treat HS, I provided you with a promising starting point.
In addition, it is worth mentioning that the database may not include all competent clinicians, as previously stated. Therefore a list of dermatologists, doctors, nurses, and surgeons, recommended by the community, will be available in the near future. International as well (if they are provided). You will have the option to access the information in both Google Sheets and PDF formats for viewing and downloading. There will be quarterly updates.
Special Note: Researched, compiled, and written by Denise Fixsen.
Disclaimer: My only intention in sharing this information is to assist fellow HS warriors. Each individual may experience different results and your personal encounters with healthcare providers may differ.
Medical Disclaimer: This content is solely for information, education, and support. The purpose is not to serve as a replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatments.
References: HERE - HERE and HERE
Article posted on 09-25-2024