Patients cannot choose a specific surgeon at public hospitals like Ichilov through the standard Israeli healthcare system. Department heads assign surgeons like Dr. Joseph Klauzner or Dr. Ron Greenberg based on hospital rotations. However, medical tourists can select their attending physician, including department heads, in advance.
- Medical tourism: International patients can choose specific professors or department heads before arriving.
- Private options: Facilities like Assuta allow full surgeon selection for an additional fee.
- Clinical leadership: Top units are led by experts like Dr. Hagit Tulchinsky.
- Consultation access: Specialist consultations are available from $750 to $950 for expert surgical planning.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While public assignments are typically fixed, coordination data shows that international patients at Ichilov often gain direct access to senior leadership. For example, patients can specifically request the Head of Colorectal Surgery or the Chairman of Surgery, ensuring their complex large intestine resection is managed by a specialist with 45+ years of experience.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that being in the public system often feels like the 'luck of the draw' regarding who performs the procedure. Many who wanted more control found that a private pre-op consultation helped them feel more prepared. They often suggest that for peace of mind, choosing the medical tourism route is the most reliable way to guarantee a specific expert.
