Dr. Marin Radulescu, MD - Orlando, FL
Has anyone use Dr. Radulescue? I went to the information session and had an office visit with him and he seems very nice, but I am concerned about his experience. My PCP recommended I choose a surgeon that has done at least 1,000 RNY surgeries, but Dr. Radulescue has done far less. I asked him how many he had done and he’s only led about 50 of these surgeries. He’s done many in while in training and said that he trained under one of the best RNY surgeons in the world, but by himself he’s only done around 50. Should I be nervous? He has a lot of positive things going for him including his location to me, the ease of scheduling, etc. I think there are good things to be said for a small practice, but I am concerned about the fact that it is a new practice and he is a new surgeon. Thoughts?
Where is he located? I would be concerned about the number of surgeries, as well. I am going to Dr. Kim in Celebration, where each of the procedures he does, he has done well over a thousand or multi thousand times. I am scheduled for surgery next week, he and his staff have been absolutely wonderful to deal with. They have made me and my family feel like part of their extended family and have really walked us through every step of this journey.
I have also heard really good things about Dr. Marema I believe he operates out of St. Augustine but has info and support sessions here in Orlando.
I live near UCF and it only takes me about 40 minutes to get to Celebration Health. I am happy to answer any questions if you have them. Dr. Kim also does do the RNY. Here's his website if you are interested. http://www.floridabariatric.com/procedures/index.asp
I have also heard really good things about Dr. Marema I believe he operates out of St. Augustine but has info and support sessions here in Orlando.
I live near UCF and it only takes me about 40 minutes to get to Celebration Health. I am happy to answer any questions if you have them. Dr. Kim also does do the RNY. Here's his website if you are interested. http://www.floridabariatric.com/procedures/index.asp
IGDiva, Dr. Radulescu is at ORMC in downtown Orlando. They have the new ORMC Weight Loss Surgery commericals on TV. About two years ago I went to an information session with Dr. Kim and liked him a lot but he wasn't covered by my insurance company. Since then, he has chanced practices, but his office won't re-verify my insurance without me coming to another infomration session, which irritated me. I would rather not have to go to the same thing again, just to have them look at my insruance. The other thing, is that I was hoping to find someone a little closer to home to make it easy to get to appointments and things. I have a busy work scheudle, so it is hard for me to take a lot of time off for appointments. Does anyone else have any good recommendations for experienced surgeons in the Orlando area?
I am going with Dr. Kim also. I had gone to his information session a couple of years ago also, that is when his group was called USBariatrics, he worked with Dr. Marema there. My insurance did not cover the surgery at the time. Two years later, my insurance changed and I called them. It was no longer USBariatrics. That is why they need you to attend their session. They didn't have any of my old paperwork. Dr. Marema moved to Flagler with USB and Dr. Kim was hired on at Celebration at AMIBSC. Anyway, they have been more than wonderful. I hear the aftercare their is top notch! I was approved today!! I'm so excited!
Well that is great to hear. I also went when they were US Bariatrics. I have heard good things about Dr. Kim, I just hate that the hospital is so far away from me. It's about a 45 minutes drive for me and I know I would be going a lot for all the pre- and post-op stuff. You are even farther away in Deland!
I'm trying to recall, but I think this was the schedule (and usually the staff will work hard with you to try and schedule things in as few sessions as possible/at times that are most convenient for you):
Info session (is in the evening)
Pre-surgery appointment with Dr Kim
Pre-surgery and nutrition class - one whole morning. Managed to do my pre-op blood work the same time and hospital pre-registration as well (this was the week before surgery). Also got the pre-surgery metabolic measurements and exercise consult with the exercise physiologist done that morning as well.
Surgery
1 week post-surgery appointment
1 month post-surgery appointment - combined with exercise physiologist follow up
3 month post-surgery appointment
6 month post-surgery appointment - combined with exercise physiologist and nutritionist follow up
12 month (and annually thereafter) - combined with exercise physiologist follow up
That looks like a lot of trips - didn't really feel that way. Also went the week before the 3, 6 and 12 month follow-ups to have the blood work done at the hospital (you can have it done anywhere though).
You can view this as a lot of appointments - but I'd suggest asking other surgeons what their program is like in comparison - how far into your journey do they still care for you? You'll hear this again and again - but the surgery is only a tool. What you do with it makes all the difference, and that is why follow up is so important.
Info session (is in the evening)
Pre-surgery appointment with Dr Kim
Pre-surgery and nutrition class - one whole morning. Managed to do my pre-op blood work the same time and hospital pre-registration as well (this was the week before surgery). Also got the pre-surgery metabolic measurements and exercise consult with the exercise physiologist done that morning as well.
Surgery
1 week post-surgery appointment
1 month post-surgery appointment - combined with exercise physiologist follow up
3 month post-surgery appointment
6 month post-surgery appointment - combined with exercise physiologist and nutritionist follow up
12 month (and annually thereafter) - combined with exercise physiologist follow up
That looks like a lot of trips - didn't really feel that way. Also went the week before the 3, 6 and 12 month follow-ups to have the blood work done at the hospital (you can have it done anywhere though).
You can view this as a lot of appointments - but I'd suggest asking other surgeons what their program is like in comparison - how far into your journey do they still care for you? You'll hear this again and again - but the surgery is only a tool. What you do with it makes all the difference, and that is why follow up is so important.
Your points are certainly good and valid. I think I will reconsider Dr. Kim. Thanks for the advice. In my thought process, I had also included trips for support groups, cooking classes, etc which will add to the travel, but you are right that it is probably worth it if they are offering superior service. Thanks!
I'd say there's a couple of things to consider here:
Do you want to be operated on by someone with a ton of experience or do you want to be part of a surgeon obtaining his experience? A new surgeon may be very good, and you may have a trouble-free operation - but it does add to the risk. If he's only done 50 surgeries on his own, then any stats he can give you on success rate, complication rate etc need to be viewed from the perspective of having a very small universe (this can skew both negatively or positively - one bad surgery will look much worse in a small universe than in a large one).
What is Dr Radulescue's follow-up program like? What type of support staff does he have? Is ORMC a bariatric center of excellence? Do they have a dedicated section for bariatric patients - or will you be treated by nurses/staff with limited experience with bariatric patients - while they're also treating non-bariatric patients?
Here's my perspective: the travel time to/from a center should be just about last on your list of what's important in choosing a surgeon. I get that you have a busy job - and someone close is going to be easier... but this is not minor surgery. Things can - and do - go wrong. My criteria was choosing the best surgeon possible (that my insurance would cover), and the one that had the best follow-up and support program I could find. Bariatric surgery is a big investment (money, time, emotions, effort, stress) and the surgery is only the beginning - if you want to be a success, you need every advantage you can get.
I ended up going with Dr Kim. Tons of experience, very much into the science/research/data, Center of Excellence, at a hospital with a dedicated bariatric floor/wing, and a second-to-none follow up program (support groups, counselor and social worker, nutritionist, exercise physiologist etc all on staff).
The downside - it takes me over 40 minutes to get to the hospital/his office from my house (I'm in far east Orlando). However, I've had a very successful result, NO complications, all the support I ever needed and I consider the travel to be insignificant compared to that.
I have a job where I work anywhere from 50 to 85 hours a week, and travel both within the US and overseas for it. I'm also in school (usually carrying 3 classes) and volunteer in my so-called "free time" - so it's not that I don't know what it's like to juggle a lot on my plate - but it's a matter of priorities.
Sorry this is long - but the advantages you listed for Dr Radulescue have very little to do with what's needed for your long term success. Obviously only you can decide what is best for you - but I would urge you to develop a set of criteria that are based on what's required to have a successful result - and not just on who is most convenient. Then ask each surgeon you consider questions that help you rate where they fall of meeting your criteria. Do a rational, apples to apples comparison - and then make your choice.
Other surgeons I've heard of in the Orlando/ish area would be Dr Muhammad Jawad (he's primarily in Ocala, but does have an Orlando office in the Metro West area) - he's also very experienced and is also a Center of Excellence. US Bariatric also has a center in Orlando, but I'm not sure who the surgeon(s) there are or very much else about them since Dr Kim left them to develop his own practice.
Best of luck with whatever you decide, and here's to a successful outcome no matter where you end up!
Do you want to be operated on by someone with a ton of experience or do you want to be part of a surgeon obtaining his experience? A new surgeon may be very good, and you may have a trouble-free operation - but it does add to the risk. If he's only done 50 surgeries on his own, then any stats he can give you on success rate, complication rate etc need to be viewed from the perspective of having a very small universe (this can skew both negatively or positively - one bad surgery will look much worse in a small universe than in a large one).
What is Dr Radulescue's follow-up program like? What type of support staff does he have? Is ORMC a bariatric center of excellence? Do they have a dedicated section for bariatric patients - or will you be treated by nurses/staff with limited experience with bariatric patients - while they're also treating non-bariatric patients?
Here's my perspective: the travel time to/from a center should be just about last on your list of what's important in choosing a surgeon. I get that you have a busy job - and someone close is going to be easier... but this is not minor surgery. Things can - and do - go wrong. My criteria was choosing the best surgeon possible (that my insurance would cover), and the one that had the best follow-up and support program I could find. Bariatric surgery is a big investment (money, time, emotions, effort, stress) and the surgery is only the beginning - if you want to be a success, you need every advantage you can get.
I ended up going with Dr Kim. Tons of experience, very much into the science/research/data, Center of Excellence, at a hospital with a dedicated bariatric floor/wing, and a second-to-none follow up program (support groups, counselor and social worker, nutritionist, exercise physiologist etc all on staff).
The downside - it takes me over 40 minutes to get to the hospital/his office from my house (I'm in far east Orlando). However, I've had a very successful result, NO complications, all the support I ever needed and I consider the travel to be insignificant compared to that.
I have a job where I work anywhere from 50 to 85 hours a week, and travel both within the US and overseas for it. I'm also in school (usually carrying 3 classes) and volunteer in my so-called "free time" - so it's not that I don't know what it's like to juggle a lot on my plate - but it's a matter of priorities.
Sorry this is long - but the advantages you listed for Dr Radulescue have very little to do with what's needed for your long term success. Obviously only you can decide what is best for you - but I would urge you to develop a set of criteria that are based on what's required to have a successful result - and not just on who is most convenient. Then ask each surgeon you consider questions that help you rate where they fall of meeting your criteria. Do a rational, apples to apples comparison - and then make your choice.
Other surgeons I've heard of in the Orlando/ish area would be Dr Muhammad Jawad (he's primarily in Ocala, but does have an Orlando office in the Metro West area) - he's also very experienced and is also a Center of Excellence. US Bariatric also has a center in Orlando, but I'm not sure who the surgeon(s) there are or very much else about them since Dr Kim left them to develop his own practice.
Best of luck with whatever you decide, and here's to a successful outcome no matter where you end up!
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