Feed back on St. Vincent, Carmel, IN

I only talked with Dr Diaz at initial consult and before surgery. However, by then I felt I was very informed at the all day surgery/nutritional class and didn't have any other questions. The surgeons office is always available by email/phone for any questions you may have. They called me at home after receiving insurance approval in Jan to schedule the surgery date which is generally a month in advance. In the interim is when I had preop tests and the surgery/ nutritional class scheduled. If you already have the preop tests date scheduled then there should already be an actual surgery date scheduled?

Well...Some thoughts on today's pre-op exam.

Today is where I really started feeling like I was getting close.  While there are a few blood tests that won't get bac****il tomorrow, everything else is looking real good for getting things wrapped up and moving. 

No, I didn't get a surgery date yet.  It is possible that I will need to wait until November for a surgery date.  While I am anxious to get it done as soon as possible, a small delay is nothing to worry about.  The way I see it, if I don't have the patience to wait a few more weeks, I am not prepared mentally for the longer work ahead after surgery.  Maybe that is a bit ZEN but that is how I see it.

Sandee and I left home at 6 am CT for a 9:15 am ET check in.  Testing was scheduled to take 3 hours and for the most part was on schedule.  Major kudos to the hospital side of today's testing.  Testing including blood work, chest Xray, sonogram, Upper GI (Yep, barium shakes are less than appealing.), respiratory and final health survey.  Let me say this about those folks...

THEY ROCK!!!

I've never felt so well taken care of at a new facility as I did there.  Made the 2 hour drive worth every minute.  That even includes the registration person.

After lunch Sandee and I went over to the Bariatric COE (Meridian Surgical Group) on the other side of the hospital campus for a 1 pm meeting with a nurse practitioner to review that test that were available, go over my entire health history, and a have a physical evaluation.  She made it clear that it was her function to safely get me to the surgery.  We covered a lot of issues to make sure I will be ready for it.  I was extremely impressed with how she conducted the review and exam.  She was professional but not cold or matter-of-fact about it.  We never felt hurried.  She reviewed a list of questions I had for my surgeon and answered those she could.

HOWEVER...

This isn't a new feeling either.  I feel some (not all) of the support staff for the Meridian Surgical Group are less than interested in listening to any questions I had about scheduling and such.  They just don't seem to have the out going, friendliness I experienced on the other side of the campus.  In some cases I almost feel like I'm bothering them.  Yes, I know that every potential patient probably asks the same questions over and over that previous patients have asked.  Problem is, I haven't heard those answers.  (I've done a lot of home work and feel I am not asking stupid questions.)  This has been the case ever since I got my medical approval.  I've made a couple calls to staff members, get the phone message that says, (highly paraphrased) "I'm busy, leave name, number, DOB.  Don't call again cause I'm busy and I will get to you if and when I can."  I haven't gotten that call back yet.  Maybe that will change when I am officially scheduled for surgery. 

Ya, I know that is harsh but it is what I feel.  Having been previous military and a current federal employee...I'm use to some of it.  LOL  The good news is that I'm stubborn and will get what I need before too much longer.

Had I not met my surgeon and felt some good vibes, I'm not sure I wouldn't be looking for alternatives.  But I have and so I don't.

So, that standard line is that unless something unexpected comes up with the remaining test, I should hear back from them within 2 weeks to schedule the surgery. 

STANDIN' BY!

I wouldn't worry too much about the staff at the surgical group. Unless you have any problems/complications, you'll primarily speak with the individuals at the Bari Ctr of Excellence (like the nutritionists). They are all really nice and helpful. I had to call Dr. Diaz's nurse a few times because of issues with some of my meds and she was always very responsive.

You'll have a great experience at the Bari unit at the hospital. They are absolutely wonderful!!! I was just sleeved 8/10/11.

The BARI unit ROCKED!  Nothing is like being home but they took real good care of me.  All thumbs up from me.  I will be working on my blog with more details. 

St. Vincent in Carmel, IN is great. They took great care of me last month!

St Vincent in Carmel is great.  I was there for my surgery 1/2010 and was treated fantastic.  Had to go back for gall bladder surgery in May and they were great once again. 

St. V's has always had a good reputation but I had issues with the Doctors office that I selected. I lost confidence in them and 2 1/2 years later I started a search for a new surgeon and found Dr Mattar. The experience was so much improved at IU. I'm extremely happy with my 5 month result.

I had my RNY on Dec. 27 with Dr. Diaz. He is great. The Bariatric Unit is great and make you feel at home. Just a word of advice on contacting the office staff at Meridian Surgical Group. They are easier to communicate via email and respond much quicker. I have read on the Board about the staff being rude. I have not experienced that, but they are the #1 facility in IN, and have hundreds, if not thousands of patients. So, Leave a message, unless its an actual emergency, and they will get back to you within a day or 2. I am completely satisfied with the entire process.

The best way to get the answers that you are needing is to attend the support groups both while you are pre-op and especially when you are post-op.  St. Vincent's Carmel has top notch support for their patients and they have since I had my surgery almost 12 years ago there.  I know it may seem frustrating to you now, but if you weigh the pro's and con's of what is important when it comes to this surgery, I will tell you from my extensive experience in talking to 1,000's of patients over the years as well as being a support group leader myself now, that there are sooo many WLS patients out there that have minimal support and education where they had their surgery and it doesn't even begin to hold a candle to what St. Vincents's Carmel offers to us.

Even after 12 years of being a patient there, I can call up and make an appt to see one of  the dietitians whenever I feel I need to talk to them or I can e-mail also.  There is no cost to me to see them.  When I had my surgery back in Sept of 2000, the only place they had support groups was right there in Carmel and that was the first and second tuesday of each month.  I was there with bells on at each meeting.  Now they have meetings all over the state of Indiana plus Carmel also has a newbie class, exercise class, swim class, cooking class with a chef that is a WLS patient himself and we get to sample everything, and a reflections class.  All these are at NO cost to us and you will learn so much and be able to ask many questions as well as make life long friends and bonds with people just like yourself  that will laugh and cry with you on your journey. 

There are going to be positives and negatives to any journey and hospital you choose, so choose wisely.  Try to look at the positives.  If any of you can put up with some of the crap that you experience, you will find out that St. Vincents Carmel has SO much to offer WLS patients that ultimately helps educate us to learn to live a healthier life and KEEP OUR WEIGHT OFF because its just too hard to do on our own.  Take a look at St. V's website www. MyBrandNewLife.org and look under success stories and you will see before and after pictures of me there. (Kathy Friar-Evans).  Good luck to everyone on their journeys.