jumpin cross da river

I know you are a Missouri form, but most of the people in Illinois are from the Northern part of the state and I would like to hear from someone who has gone through New Start in the St. Louis area. I'm waiting for my first insurance to deny so Medicare will cover. Any information about ST. Alexis or the NS DR.s would be appericated.

Hi Sandra. I went to New Start and St. Alexius. Hospital was ok, New Start was ok-you just have to stay on top of your case since they have so many people that they deal with. You have to be your own patient advocate. I had Norbert Richardson perform the surgery, he is awesome!! He has a lot of experience, such caring and seems to understand our issues. He is great with followup appointments and questions, and checked in on me after I was home. I had Dr. Follwell assisting, and since I had a stricture, Dr. Follwell could get me in immediately for repair. The stricture has nothing to do with a problem the surgeon did, it is when the healing goes TOO well. Dr. Follwell was great too. All in all, great surgeons, ok hospital, ok New Start. Feel free to PM me if you would like. I will be glad to share more information. PS-I have relatives that live just 'cross da river in Alton with ya!! ~Diana~

Hi Sandra. I just recently had my lap rny on dec 21st at st. alexuis hospital. I went thru the New start program and had nothing but good luck the whole way thru. Everyone was very helpful and prompt with everything that needed to be done. My Dr. was Dr. Follwell and he was great, before and after. He and Dr. Richardson both work together in the surgery. I was very pleased with the whole process, from the very begining to the hospital staff. I wish you the best of luck. If you would like to talk more you can email me at [email protected] if you like. Take Care, Valerie

Hi Sandra. Welcome to the MO board. I agree completely with Diana. I also went through New Start. As Diana said you have to be your own patient advocate. New Start has a lot of patients and sometimes you can get lost in the shuffle. Dr. Richardson was excellent!!!!! I had a great experience with St. Alexius hospital. They treated me with respect and dignity - something I had never experienced with a hospital before. It was also the cleanest hospital I had ever been in. Feel free to email me privately with any questions or needs. Deanna

I jus****ned to tell you I did not go threw new start i was going to but when i went down there i did not like the hospital i had read bad things about it and it was just not something i wanted to do but this was 2 years ago. I have herd great things about them since then . Had some friends who have went there and loved it also . I did have dr Richardson and he is great I have to tell you he is on top of things very up front with you and very open about this you have to follow his rules. I think the new start program is ok they got me approved right away i just chose a difrent hospital but Richardson did it for me there I went to depaul . I think you are making the right dr choice is you choose Richardson he saved my life by giving me a new me . Good luck if ya need to ask anything email me thanks an good luck Tammy