New surgeon

I HAD BIG TIME PROBLEMS WITH THIS OFFICE-I HAD TO HAVE MY ATTORNEY WRITE THEM A LETTER IN ORDER TO GET MY RECORDS ON WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. HE KEPT TALKING LAW SUIT WITH DIFFERENT QUESTIONS-MY HUSBAND EVEN ASKED WHY DOES HE SEEM SO SCARED OF A LAW SUIT?????  GO TO DR BELL AT NEW HAVEN-HE HAS LOADS OF EXPERIENCE, AND HE WILL ACCEPT THE WORK UP THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE-I TRIED THE MD AT ST FRANCIS-THEY WANTED ME TO DO EVERYTHING OVER, AND THEY WOULD NOT LET MY OWN CARDIOLOGIST CLEAR ME-THEY WANTED ME TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE TESTS THAT MY OWN CARDIO SAID WAS TOTALLY UNNECASSERY.  THERE IS A LOT OF ETHICAL PROBLEMS AT ST FRANCIS, AND THE CARE ON THE FLOOR IS TERRRIBLE-SOMEONE I KNOW WAS SENT HOME WITH A DRAIN IN AS NO ON KNOW HOW TO REMOVE IT AND IT WAS A SUNDAY-THE ATTENDING WAS OFF.  SOMEONE ELSE WAS RECOVERING FROM OPEN HEART AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE CLEANING UP AFTER GOING TO THE BR AND THE NURSE SAID TO HER-WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR ARMS YOU DIDN'T HAVE SURERY ON THEM.  PLUS ST FRANCIS  MORTATLITY RATE IS NOT GOOD.

To each their own opinion, but I have to disagree with Betty, the above poster, regarding the generalizations with St. Francis - I think they provide top notch care in Hartford.  I don't think she is referring to Dr Raft when she refers to the St Francis doc.  I was not made to go to a specific specialist - I was given suggestions but could go to anyone I wanted...I tuck with their suggestions since they know bariatric surgery the best.  Seriously, why would you be required to a specific specialist - your surgeon isn't getting a kickback from that specialist and it would be unethical and one would question whether it is legal, to make someone see a specific specialist against their will.  What some people call unnecessary tests, I felt reassured going into surgery that my doc had looked for anything problematic right from the get-go.  I needed that reassurance to help me make my decision to have surgery.  Some people may feel differently. 

I WAS REFERRING TO DR RAFT AND HIS PROGRAM-I WAS FORCED TO GO TO DR FREUND, AND WHEN I BROUGHT THEM MY OWN CARDIO REPORT FROM AND EXCELLENT CARDIOLOGIST I WAS TOLD HE STILL HAD TO APPROVE ME AND I HAD TO HAVE THE TESTING HE WANTED.  WHY DO YOU THINK SOME MANY BARIATRIC SURGEONS HAVE LEFT ST FRANCIS-BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT PROGRAM IS SET UP-THE ONLY ONE THAT IS REALLY GOOD IS THE DIETICAN-SHE IS VERY CARING-I WANTED TO CONTINUE TO SEE HER, BUT I WAS  NOT ALLOWED, BUT I WAS WITH ANOTHER PROGRAM.  I WOULD DEFINITELY STEER AWAY FROM ST FRANCIS WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER GREAT PROGRAMS IN THE AREA.

I have never been forced to see a specific speacialist from Dr. Raft or his awesome team. I am sorry that you thought your experience was horrible. My mother was also there for her heart surgery and they staff was great to her. We actually drive 45 minutes out of our way to go to St. Fran. And as far as the consults, I prefer that my Dr.s do the tests that Dr. Raft suggests since he is my surgeon! I can't wait to go into surgery in April with him.

IT WASN'T SO MUCH HIM-HE WAS NOT THE ONE RQUIRING THE TESTS-HE WOULD NOT GO WITH WHAT MY CARDIO RECOMMENDED-SAID I HAD TO BE CLEARED BY DR FREUND-NO OTHER CARDIO COULD CLEAR ME-SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT-IT WAS THE PEOPLE HE WORKS WITH AND THE WAY THE PROGRAM IS SET UP-THERE ARE NO OTHER PROGRAMS LIKE THAT AROUND-THEY DEMAND THAT YOU SEE THEIR PEOPLE-THERE IS A LOT OF ETHICAL ISSUES THERE-I WOULD ALSO CHECK HIS BACKGROUND IN PA-IF YOU SEARCH IT OUT-YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED-I HAVE A RELATIVE WHO IS AN MD AND THEY CHECKED HIM OUT-WITH HIS BACKGROUND I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T LET HIM OPERATE ON ME-I WISH YOU LOTS OF LUCK, AND HOPE IT GOES WELL FOR YOU.

You might want to take the time to remove the cap lock when typing. Peter

Hi, Could you please not type in all caps?  In the internet world, it means you are screaming at people.  We can more easily read in lower case. Thanks, p

Sorry-didn't realize that-that was not my intent to come off as screaming at someone.  I learn something new from this board every day!!!!!

JCA - You are contradicting what you are saying - did he or did he not (Dr. Raft) require you to see Dr. Freund as your consult?  I was never required to see a specific physician - I could see anyone I wanted.  There is a big difference from being required to see a specific surgeon and the patient not being able to find anyone but that physician to provide the medical clearance that is required.  I saw Dr. Freund and actually really liked him.  A stress test is a standard requirement if you are under a certain age AND have diabetes (my case) OR are of a certain age bracket.  All of my prior tests came out normal.  They still wanted me to have the stress test done.  Why on earth would you not want it?  I've heard others complain about too much preliminary testing - maybe I am crazy here but I really felt like I wanted no stone left unturned - eliminating operative issues before they happen is one of the biggest keys to a successful outcome.  Statistical data is highly scrutinized by patients when choosing a bariatric surgeon.   Who can fault a surgeon for wanting to promote preoperative screening for potential WLS candidates?  It is a direct reflection upon him. I've done extensive reseach on Dr. Raft prior to even setting up an appt with him.  I found no lawsuits, no settlements, his license is in good standing in both states and he knows his stuff - he has participated in many studies, written many, many articles on WLS and is setting the future for the gold standard of care for WLS.  In addition, his outcomes/statistics are phenominal compared to several other surgeons I looked into in our area.  I've never found anything negative about him in any research that I've done - I contacted many of his past patients from PA as well....still nothing bad.  Everyone I have talked to loves the man.  I can't imagine that St Francis would recruit a physician with a shady background to head up their Bariatrics Department (ie, Medical Director). 

I AM REALLY GLAD THINGS WORKED OUT FOR YOU WITH HIM-THE INFO CAME FROM AN INSIDE SOURCE FROM AN MD AND THEIR NETWORK-HE SPECIFICALLY TOLD ME I HAD TO SEE FRUEND-AND THAT HE HAD TO CLEAR ME-FRUEND WOULD NOT ACCEPT WHAT MY CARDIO OF MANY YEARS SAID WAS NECESSARY=I ALSO FOUND HIM TALKING ABOUT MONEY AND THE COSTS OF THE TESTS/   AS A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL MYSELF MY CURRENT MDS HAVE BEEN PICKED WITH A LOT OF SCRUTINY, SO I TRUST WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY-I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT TOO MUCH PRE OP TESTING, JUST UNNECCESARY TESTING-BUT AS SOMEONE SAID PREVIOUSLY TO EACH HIS OWN-I AM VERY HAPPY WITH MY SELECTION OF DR BELL-THE PERSON WHO STARTED THIS THREAD WANTED AN OPINION AND THAT WAS WHAT I WAS DOING-EXPRESSING MY OPINION-AND SHARING MY EXPERIENCE-THAT IS WHAT THIS BOARD IS ALL ABOUT-I AM SURE THERE IS SOMEONE OUT THERE WHO DOESN'T LIKE MY SURGEON=I AM SURE WE COULD FIND SOMEONE WHO IS AGAINST EVERY SURGEON IN THE STATE!