About
Dr. James Higgins is Chief of The Curtis National Hand Center at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. Dr. Higgins specializes in complex reconstruction after trauma, microsurgery, congenital hand surgery as well as fractures and disorders of the arm and wrist. He is fellowship trained in hand surgery and board certified in plastic surgery.
Dr. Higgins is recognized as a leading surgeon in the field and a sought-after national and international presenter and visiting professor. His numerous research studies and clinical trial research projects are published in prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals. While treating commonplace hand conditions he has been recognized as a leader in complex areas of hand surgery including microsurgery, hand replantation and transplantation, and wrist reconstruction.
Dr. Higgins believes in treating all patients in the same way that he would treat a family member. His dedication to patient care and compassion led him to be named a Top Doctor by Baltimore Magazine and a Super Doctor by The Washington Post.
Each year the two largest national scientific organizations of hand and microsurgery select a travelling ambassador surgeon from among their ranks of thousands of surgeons around the globe. Dr Higgins has served as the selected ambassador and travelling fellow for each of these groups. In 2010 Dr. Higgins served as the Godina travelling fellow for the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery. In 2013 he then served as the Sterling Bunnell travelling fellow for the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Dr Higgins is one of only two surgeons globally who have ever received both of these prestigious accolades.
Dr. Higgins was named a 2019 “Top Doc” by Baltimore Magazine for Hand Surgery and has been recognized since 2015.
Credentials
Board Certification
- Hand Surgery (Primary); certified in 2004
Education
- Fellowship Program Raymond Curtis Hand Cntr (2002)
- Residency Program Strong Memorial Hospital (1998 - 2001)
- Medical School University of Rochester School of Medicine (1996)
- Internship Program Strong Memorial Hospital (1997)
Conditions Treated
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Wrist Fracture (Break), Dislocation and Subluxation
Wrist or distal radius fractures are very common. In fact, the radius is the most commonly broken bone in the arm. The radius is the larger of the two bones of the forearm. The end toward the wrist is called…
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Trauma to the Hand, Wrist, Forearm or Elbow
Trauma is damage done to the bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments after an injury. These types of injuries may include after a fall, a household or vehicle accident or even as a result of violence.
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The carpal tunnel is a space in the wrist where a nerve and nine tendons pass from the forearm into the hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when swelling in the tunnel compresses the median nerve. As a result of the…
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Trigger Finger / Trigger Thumb / Trigger Digit
Trigger Finger Trigger finger is a condition that affects the flexor tendons in your fingers or thumb and limits finger movement. When you bend or straighten your finger, the flexor tendon slides through a snug tunnel, called the tendon sheath…
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Arthritis (Thumb)
Thumb arthritis, also called basal joint arthritis, is a type of osteoarthritis caused when cartilage wears away in the joint at the base of the thumb. This form of hand arthritis can result in pain with activities that involve gripping…
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Locations
The Curtis National Hand Center
Videos
Meet Dr. James Higgins
Transplant Saves a Patients Hand
Patient Travels to Curtis National Hand Center
Insurance
MedStar Health Providers participate with a wide range of health insurance products. We accept self-pay patients and the insurances plans listed below. This list is not comprehensive, it is updated periodically and is subject to change. If you do not see your health insurance plan or product listed, or if you have any questions regarding MedStar Health’s participation with your health plan, please contact your health plan to verify participation with our providers.
Since the MedStar Health providers span the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia regions, our participation with DC, Maryland and Virginia Medical Assistance programs varies by provider group. Please contact your MedStar Physician’s Office to assist with verifying Medical Assistance participation. If you are enrolled in a Medicaid Managed Care Organization, please contact your Medicaid health plan to verify participation.
Insurance Plans Accepted-
AETNA
13
- AETNA — Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- AETNA — Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS) Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- AETNA — Aetna HMO Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- AETNA — Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA Innovation Health: POS Open HMO Opoen HMO Option Open EPO Plus
- AETNA — Aetna Managed Choice (POS) Innovation Health: POS Plus
- AETNA — Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS) Choice POS & Choice POS II Innovation Health: Open POS Plus Open POS II
- AETNA — Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- AETNA — Aetna Open Choice (PPO) Innovation Health: PPO
- AETNA — Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- AETNA — Aetna Student Health Insurance
- AETNA — Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO) Innovation Health: Indemnity
- AETNA — Aetna USAccess (POS)
- AETNA — Aetna Worker’s Compensation Network
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CAREFIRST
8
- CAREFIRST — CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access BlueChoice Open Access Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO POS)
- CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CAREFIRST — CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CAREFIRST — CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- CAREFIRST — CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO HealthyBlue PPO
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CIGNA
6
- CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA EPO PPO and PPO Plus Choice Fund PPO
- CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA) Network OA POS OA & OA Plus
- CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA Indemnity
- CIGNA HEALTH CARE — CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CIGNA HEALTH CARE — Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
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COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK
4
- COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK — Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK — Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK — Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- COVENTRY HEALTH NETWORK — First Health PPO
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FIRST HEALTH
1
- FIRST HEALTH (NOW COVENTRY) — FIRST HEALTH
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MEDSTAR FAMILY CHOICE
2
- MEDSTAR FAMILY CHOICE — MedStar Family Choice – Maryland Health Choice
- MEDSTAR FAMILY CHOICE — MedStar Family Choice-DC Healthy Families
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MEDSTAR MEDICARE CHOICE
1
- MEDSTAR MEDICARE CHOICE — MedStar Medicare Choice
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MEDSTAR SELECT
1
- MEDSTAR SELECT — MedStar Select
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PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS INC.
1
- PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS INC. (PHCS) — Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
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TRICARE
4
- TRICARE — Tricare Extra (Indemnity)
- TRICARE — Tricare Prime
- TRICARE — Tricare Standard
- TRICARE — Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
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UNITED HEALTHCARE
12
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — M.D. IPA (HMO)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — OneNet PPO Inc.
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — Optimum Choice United Healthcare Navigate United Healthcare Compass (HMO)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Choice Plus
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Choice United Healthcare Core Essential (HMO)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO GEHA Compass Rose)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Select HMO – EPO/NPP
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- UNITED HEALTHCARE — United Student Resources