Dr Steven Clark/St. Francis Weight Loss Center

Has anyone on here had Dr Steven Clark as their surgeon and what was your pre-op and post-op experience with him? I am very disappointed in him and his staff. I had surgery on Dec 3rd and I have only seen him one time since the surgery. The disappointment started on the day of surgery. I seen him for a few seconds as they rolled me by the nurses station. He said "See you in the Surgery room." I never did! I didn't see him in recovery, I didn't see him in the Intensive Care Unit, nor in my private room. My friend Brenda had surgery the same day and she was right across the hall from me. I am telling you this to make another point. Dr. Clark was in her room checking on her and never made an attempt to come and see me. Instead I was seen by a "house doctor" and released by him as well........My first post-op appointment was canceled twice. And there has been 3-4 more cancellations since then. I have only seen Dr Clark one time at about 7 weeks post-op. I also have issues with his staff as well. You call and leave a message for the nurses and they either wait 3-4 days before they call back or they don't call at all! Prime example this last Thursday. The Dr's office called to cancel my appointment once again for an Emergency Surgery (I wonder why every time they cancel it's for an emergency surgery? That concerns me alone). I was told the nurse would call me back to see if there was anything she could do to help me. I have been sick every since I had the surgery. Can't hold down the shakes, etc...Well I bet you have guessed it by now, never got the call. Oh and this is not just happening to me, my friend Brenda I mentioned, she has NEVER seen Dr. Clark since her surgery, not one time.......I am so beside myself, I don't even know what to think at this point! Please tell me this is NOT how it is suppose to be!

If you don't like the staff treatment from St Francis's WL Center then call Dr Clark's surgery office. It's called Priemer Surgical... # 865-8012. Dr Clark does more then just bariatric surgeries. He also does hernia's, gallbladders, etc (Alimentary Tract organs).... so likely an emergency surgery has nothing to do with bariatrics ALONE. I had problems with the St Francis's staff... I see him and his PA Julie at his surgical office and get treated a lot better. I never saw Dr Clark after my surgery or even before my release the next day. I saw the inhouse doctor at the time. Hopefully changing to his surgical office will be better for you. 

GOOD LUCK & BLESSINGS
Jodi

 First let me say how sorry I am that you have to go through this, I understand how frustrated you must be. 

I also had surgery at St Francis but my surgeon was Dr Mandelbaum.  I had a totally different experience than the one you are describing.  Dr M checked on me each day while I was hospitalized, which was five days due to a reaction to the pain meds.  He even stopped in on Sat and Sun morning to check on me.  I have seen him at each of my follow up appointments up to three months.  Dr M has partnered with Dr Olsen who is the first and only licensed physician who has a specialty in weight loss.  She is awesome, so maybe Dr Clark will follow suit.  If you have the chance to see her I would suggest you jump at it.  She has a history of weight loss herself and is really understanding. 

As far as Dr M's staff ..they have been wonderful.  I dont know if it is the same staff for Dr Clark????   I have never had a problem getting through to the nurses or nuts.  I think only one time I had to leave a message for the nurse and got a call back the same day...weird.

I would not change a thing about my surgery, or surgeon.
Jeannie

I had Dr. Clark for my surgery. He came in and spoke with me for about 15 minutes prior to surgery. He also spoke with my mother and loved ones after surgery and offered to give them vivid color pictures of my stoma*****ase I wanted them for my Facebook or myspace page. Kinda freaked my mom out for a sec, but my sisters thought it was way cool. My mother and husband and the rest of the family liked him alot. He visited me afterwords for a few minutes, but I don't remember much of it thanx to the morphine. And he did come a day or two later to make sure I was doing o.k. As for the office staff, it can be frustrating sometimes reaching a nurse. I don't bother leaving a message. I talk to one of the ladies at the front desk and let them know that I would like to speak to Janet or the nurse available and that I'll hold until they can be placed on the line. (Jane's my favorite nurse there). I think they are going through a bit of growing pains with moving the practice & expanding. Dr. Clark is a cool guy. I would let someone at his office know that you are not feeling that you are getting decent service.
I am sorry you are going through this, I had a different more positive experience with him, but I know it would concern me if I went through what you have.

Humm... my friend Angie thinks he is the best thing since sliced toast... he did her and her husbands surgery... I do wish you well... maybe you could see if he has someone else who could follow you if he is nt going to step  up to the plate..

Linda Kay

this is Lindas friend Angie and i am with jo on this......call his office...he rocks and he is the best in my book...very very caring dr, and he does do other surgerys he may have had a gall bladder surgery or as with ed had to go in for an unexpected surgery and i know dr clark had to cancel those appointments as well......i love me some dr clark.....lol...sounded nasty huh? well he is and i just love him and now i will say a huge difference with community south and dr clark vs st f and dr clark though i feel st f office was always on it for me and i even had to call on new years day or new years eve after my surgery and the nurse was right on it...now with community i feel if you go and use the drs north your better off...LOL...sorry but i feel south are treated like step kids..actually step kids get treated better.....shut up Angela.....but now dr clark is better than sliced bread....LMAO.....

I wish you hadn't delelted your response to me. There's nothing wrong with publicly saying you'r having a problem with your surgeon even if everyone else seems to think he's the greatest. Please don't feel like I or others wouldn't nor aren't taking your complaints seriously. 

Have you talked to Dr Clark about how you feel you've been treated? If not, I would muster up the courage and have that open dialoge with him. He might not be aware that him and his staff are dropping the ball in your after care treatment. 

I really wish you luck, hope, and strength in getting this situtation turned around in a more positive position for you. EVERYONE deserves post op care to where they feel as if they are cared about. 

Please, speak up and talk to him directly. 

If I can be of any assistance in any way please let me know. 

 

Blessings
Jodi

Jodi......I didn't delete my response, I am not sure where it went. I have no problem speaking up publicly about how I feel about things, I am very outspoken, so much so my adult children have me to make business calls for them at times! Lol......I cannot talk to Dr. Clark personally about this, because my appointments get canceled every time. As I stated before, I have only seen him one time since my surgery and my friend Brenda has not seen him at all since Dec 3rd......I too wi**** was a more positive experience for both of us. We both wish we had never had it done to begin with........I appreciate your comments and everyone else as well. Have a blessed day.

Good.... Don't be afraid to speak up about your experience. I don't know why you two are falling through the cracks at his office. It makes me feel sad for the both of ya and him because he really is a good surgeon and all. 

I guess if it was me I'd call the Priemer office and as sh^5tty as possible tell them that you want an appointment ASAP and if this one gets cancelled as the other 4 or so, not only will you find a new physican in the bariatric field but you will also file a complaint with the medical board for incompetence(sp?). I know from talking to Dr Clark's PA Julie that him and her ONLY go to the St Francis's WLS center ONCE a month and it's normally the third Monday of the month and thats it for that facility. Heck... His office manager's name is Amy... grip at her too about the to many cancellations and crap. 

It's just awful because I have absolutely no problem getting in to see him at the Premier office but you two, so recent in post op care, are having this much trouble. I'm so very sorry. 

Consider my idea and PLEASE let me know if you do if it worked for you. And again, if I can be of any service please let me know. 

Blessings
Jodi