Anyone been to Florence Hospital?

Anyone been to Florence Hospital since they moved? I just saw pictures of the outside of the building and it looks really scary. I've heard many good reviews and the pictures of the inside look fine, but when I pull it up on Google Streetview I get so worried. I am considering Dr Zavalza and he has excellent reviews. Also considering BariatricPal with Dr Illan but the hotel they put you up in is a casino and kind of a bummer.

Do you mean Florence Hospital that is also known as oasis hospital of hope?  I had my surgery there with BariatricPal and Dr. Illan 17 days ago.  I hear you about the casino thing.  I booked my date when they were still using the holiday inn.  They had made the switch to the casino hotel after I had booked but before my surgery so they were able to let me still stay at the holiday inn.  When I talked to them they said that they would be "mostly" just booking with the casino.  So if you chose them I bet you could offer to only go through them if they booked you at the holiday inn.  The broth at the holiday inn tastes amazing as well!

 

uThe hospital was great, the doctor was great, and the valets were great.  But Bill and Henry at bariatric pal told me some straight up lies about some things.  So although my over all experience was pretty good, some things about bariatric pal seriously ticked me off big time.  Also, they make it seem like somebody will take you tourist  shopping and stuff.  In reality they have a guide but you have to pay for an uber or taxi to take you and the guide shopping or out to eat.  I did not find out that until after we arrived.  The uber was cheap, but I was misled.  Not cool.

 

I believe that you can also book Dr. Illan through baja bariatrics as well for less money.  I don't know what hospital he does surgeries for them at though.  

 

I can tell you the the Oasis is BEAUTIFUL!  It was just remodeled and they did a great job.  All of the nurses and doctors that  check up on you are wonderful.

So if you go through bariatric pal just be wary of some things.  Also, the "nutritionist" is just a former bariatric patient who is the managers wife who is getting trained.  She is not very knowledgeable and tries to pass herself off as an expert.  

Dr. Illan did a wonderful job on my surgery and my recovery has been really good.  I am easily able to get in all of the fluid and protein I need.  I was having some pain after I got home from surgery and I was able to facebook message him and have him diagnose me over the computer.  I totally recommend him!  He was also just voted one of the best bariatric surgeons in Tijuana.  

 

I am not saying don't use bariatric pal.  I did have a great experience with the doctor, hospital, nurses, and the valets were great.  Although I think that we did get hosed a bit when we were led to believe that we needed to pay one of the drivers and extra $50 to show us around San Diego on the way to the airport.  $4,400 is a really great price and the doctor and the hospital are the most important things in my mind.

 

Red flags have popped up after my most recent conversation with Bill at Baja Bariatrics this afternoon. He raised his voice and spoke over me with threats to cancel my surgery after asking him for a general timeline of the 4 days in Tijuana... this, after I made a $500 deposit. He led me to believe that it is only through him that I can be treated by Dr. Illan. Is that true? He said that no one has ever asked for that information in the 4 years he's been coordinating these surgeries. Really? I told him that it's a reasonable request being as I'm spending $4600 (the new price) out of pocket. Is there a way to circumvent these people and work directly with Dr. Illan or the hospital? I can book my own hotel and drive myself to the hospital in TJ. Please advise.

Actually he "Florence Hospital" has moved to the La cacho area of Tijuana and it looks old and ugly from the outside, not at all like the Oasis of Hope which of course looks fabulous. It's a pink building.

The Florence Hospital is not the Oasis Hospital they are two different buildings. The Florence is an older Hospital, but has everything you will need and the staff are very good. As for the Hotel with the casino, I think they are referring to the Grand Hotel. It had casino built in the lobby, but the permits were never approved so or remains unopened and unused. It's a good hotel.

Florence Direct Care is owned by Florence Hospital Tijuana, they offer Dr Mario Camelo and you deal directly with the Hospital and no medical tourism company so you save their commission you pay $3800 the hospital where they do Bariatrics was built in 2016 in addition to the older part of the Hospital that was built i***** where they do local surgery ... I had the same questions when I decided to go there ...,

Thanks for the information. Was the $3800 just for the hospital related expenses? Did you book your own hotel stay for postop follow up?

Hi Curry

Yes it cover all the hospital expenses X-rays medical testing,Internal medicine evaluation oh and the hotel I staid on new city hotel in Tijuana (they book you the hotel)

Hi Rodrigovives,

How have you recovered since your surgery? I am considering using Dr Cuevo for a gastric sleeve. I am skeptical as I worry about fraudsters using the internet and not being able to view the facilities in person. You hear so many contradicting opinions of procedures in Mexico.

Regards :)