Dr Steven Clark

Please tell me the good, bad and ugly. Please tell me about his staff, him, his ablilites (or lack thereof). I may be switching to him and I want to make sure that I am doing the right thing. Thanks Crystal

I saw three different surgeons on my quest to find one for myself (preop). The final and fourth on was Dr Clark. I chose him because besides coming across very knowledgable and professional - he came across as a friend. Someone that wanted to make sure you understood what you were going to do/doing to your body. He broke down anything and everything into the simplest way to understand it. He has great bedside manner. He likes and laugh and joke around (as well as his assistant). He really put me at ease. That's the good. The bad - and these are things I've experienced and watched other experience.... - the staff depends on where you see him at. If you are seeing him at HIS practice (St Francis South Building) Priemier Bariatrics then on most occassions insurance process takes longer there, getting message relayed via Amy to Dr Clark can/may take awhile, appoints changes/rescheduling can be bothersome from time to time. Going thru St Francis Bariatric Center - things for me went fairly smooth and communciation was a lot better here then calling to his office. Community Hospitals (North and South)- I've heard have a little difficulty understanding bariatric care immediately post op. Espescially dietary wise. St Francis - Beech Grove (though thru newspaper articles I've come to understand will be transistioning all of their services eventually to St Francis South so who knows for sure how much longer they will be doing bariatric surgeries there) was a easy staff to get along with and was very patient and understandable. But as for Dr Clark himself - I adore him. But then again whoever someone chooses to do their bariatric surgery that's who they are gonna say is the best. It's all a matter of personal choices. Good Luck. Jodi

Hi Crystal, Dr Clark did my surgery through the Community Hospitals Network (surgery at Community South). My husband and I were very impressed with him at the seminar. He answered all of our questions and took his time about it. The hospital was very good to me also. I haven't cared as much for the after care. The follow-up visits are run like a clinic, so it is nothing to spend 2 1/2 hrs there. (You sign in, wait, see the Nutritionist, wait, see the nurse, wait, see the Dr and then finally can leave.) Once you are out of the hospital you don't really see the surgeon very much (about 5 minutes at each visit). The other thing I didn't like was the fact that the nurse was never willing to go over my blood test results with me. I'm used to my regular doctor's nurse going over every number with me...telling me what it was and where if fell in the in or around the normal range. Personally, I like the details. All I could ever get out of the nurse with Community Hospital's bariatric program was that they were "fine". I don't have anything bad to say about Dr Clark, but I have recently switched my after care to the Clarian Bariatrics Group. I like their after care program much better. I've found the support groups and staff to be more personable and they offer the only bariatric cooking class in town. Hope this helps. Cindy

There is none better....Dr clark is the BOMB....I had him through st F and my husband had him through Community south...you would be doing the right thing...LOL.. I know community south has since changed alot of the issues with them, st F has an awesome wing in the hosp that knows you need to be walking knows what you are suppose to be doing....they have no problem walking with you even if thats what it takes...then there is always his office as well we have gone to more so ed than myself, since he is only at community south so little..ed has just gone to his office on Emmerson for some visits... if you have the chance he is the man.....

Hi Crystal, I too had Dr. Clark for my surgery. I'm only 3 wks out, so I don't really know much about the after care. I can tell you he was very nice when he had to cancel my surgery due to the huge snow storm. I got a call at 5:00 in the morning that it was cancelled. I talked to him later that day and he promised me he would work me in on Friday. At the time I thought, "Yea, right", but he did. As a matter of fact, his staff was hesitant and said "I don't think he knew his schedule when he told you that", then they scheduled me for 3:00. About 2hrs later I got a phone call "Have you eaten lunch yet", "No", "Good because Dr. Clark just got in and he rearranged things. Be at the hospital at 5:00 am tomorrow" So, he got in and held to his promise. The only disappointment I've had is that he didn't check on me later that day. I saw him for about 30sec right before they wheeled me away and I didn't see him again for a week and a half at his office. I would have hoped that he would have stopped by because I had some questions and the doctor who discharged me didn't have the answers. I guess you can't be everywhere at the same time, but a phone call to see how I was doing and see if I had any questions would have been a nice touch. Tania

I am pre bariatric surgery myself with dr clark. I went to 3 or 4 different presentations and I have chosen him because he did my hernia surgery in 2001 amd he was amazing I have a very small scar that isn't very noticable. he is very professional and very friendly.

Hi Crystal, Before seeing Doctor Clark I did see another surgeon. When I went to see this particular surgeon I did not like him at all. So I made an appointment with Dr. Clark. i instantly loved him. As someone said in the previous post Amy his nurse can be kind of slow getting back to you, but she will get back with you. Dr. Clark is very thourough. He will explain everything to you until you completely understand. Before surgery he came and talked to me in the surgery holding area. He re-assured me, asked me if I had any questions and explained everything to me again. Told me he would see me in surgery. the staff that took me to surgery were the best. They wheeled me in, talked to me, introduced me to everyone in the room and once again explained things to me. The anestiesiologist (sp) was also great. I have got to say this was the first surgery that when I went in I was not nervous or scared. I was just as calm as ever. After surgery Dr. Clark came to my room that evening to see how I was doing. he came in everyday. I had surgery on Wednesday and I went home on Friday. He asked me if I wanted to stay through Saturday. (I couldn't wait to get out of there because I absolutely hated the heprin shots that you get. Sorry but they hurt like the dickens) A couple of weeks out I got a stricture, had to go in several times to see him and then had to have surgery to get it fixed 4x's, i was so upset and ditraught that I actually was begging him to reverse it back. His exact words were, give me a week and I promise you, you will be better, well by gosh he knew what he was talking about. Anytoime I have had an issue or problem his staff at St. Francis weight loss center has gotten me right in. Janet that works there with him is the best as well. he even told me one time not to ever hesitate to call him and if I needed to come in everyday and see him then I was to come in everyday and see him, he said that is what he is there for. As for his bedside manner, it is awesome as well. All I can say is that Dr. Clark is the best and he will do everything possible in his power to help you. Just believe and trust in him. I promise you won't be sorry.. Good Luck with your journey Dawn R

I had Dr. Clark and really like him. The only downside, I didn't see him after my surgery at all until I was discharged. My family liked him during the surgery because he came out mid-surgery to let them know everything was going well and then came back out after surgery to let them know it was over and I did very well. Tina