St. Alexius, New Start Program-

I am jhoping to have surgery at St. Alexius Hopital in St. Louis. The Dr. that I am choosing is Dr. Richardson. I would love to hear from anyone who has had surgery at this hospital. What was your experience? Do you feel like the aftercare is a good, supportive program? Anything that you can tell me will help me to feel more at ease. Thank you in advance. Oh yeah,,,I plan on having the lap band surgery...

Bonnie... I had my surgery at St. A's under Dr. Van Wagner. I had LAP Rny. Dr. Wagner did a very good job and I don't really have a problem with him per se other than his aftercare program doesn't exist (at least there wasn't one prior to or after my surgery). St. A's was another story. Hit and miss.... with more emphasis on the miss. I hope that they have cleared things up a bit. I had a few good nurses/attendants after my surgery ...but for the most part they sucked. I was glad that my husband was there with me or I don't know what I would of done. One prime example which I found unexcusable being that I was on the postop bariatric floor of all floors.. they kept bringing me the WRONG foods.... food that was NOT for a bariatric patient let alone one that had just HAD the surgery. If you need any other information please email me...... hopefully things have changed... btw...welcome to the MISSOURI BOARD! Elizabeth~

Hi Elizabeth, Sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience. You are the first to tell me that. Most people (only a couple) that I have talked to had a good experience. I wonder if it has something to do with the doctor. I am choosing Dr. Richardson. He is the director of surgery and highly recommended. Didn't your doctor set you up with the New Start Program? I already went to one of the support group meetings that was open to anyone that had surgery or was thinking about it. I was very impressed with all the support. Because of this program I am choosing this hospital. I will definately need a lot of support after surgery and many years to come. Did you have much pain after surgery and how is the food and weightloss coming? Thank you for your quick response. Bonnie

Hi Bonnie, I had Dr. Richardson for my surgeon at St. Alexius through New Start and had a great experience. He was on top of everything and always addressed my concerns. He even did my gallbladder surgery about 7 months later and did an excellent job. All the doctors I see comment on how small my scars are and what a great job has been done. St. Alexius was comfortable, the nurses all checked on me regularly and were really nice. I have no complaints. Goodluck with your journey, hope everything goes beautifully for you. Chrissy RNY 10/04 283/144

Bonnie - you've made an excellent choice of surgeon - I'm living proof! As far as St. Alexius is concerned, while I did not have my surgery there, those I've talked to who did had very good experiences. My understanding is that they've gone to great lengths over the past year to really improve their overall program. For me, 99% of it was all about the Surgeon and what happens in the operating room. Let's face it, with hospitals it's going to be hit and miss - even when it's exceptional, you're likely to feel your worst while you're there. Because I'm an out of towner - I'm unable to take advantage of the aftercare program, support group and other activities that you get with the bariatric programs like they have at St. Alexius. But everytime I've had a question or issue - Dr. Richardson and his staff have been very attentive and addressed them immediately - so I've had the tools and support I need to be successful. Good Luck! Cards Fan Springfield, MO

Dr. Richardson is a good surgeon, although I didn't know that he was doing lap band surgery (I had RNY). I had a great experience at St. Alexius and I feel that the aftercare program is adequate. I haven't had a need to see the surgeon on an emergency basis or anything, but I've been able to talk to the dietician when I've needed to, and getting follow-up appointments hasn't been difficult. Pamela 352/219/150

Hopefully they changed some things since I had the surgery almost 2 years ago. There were nurses that were good...but alas I did not have but one of them. I never got a shower, got my linens changed, got the wrong food constantly, I.V's blew and I waited hours for something to be done about them before they were changed. This was finally done after I threatened to pull them out myself... it just went on and on. I didn't have a beef with my dr. but since he had gone (it was now the weekend) he wasn't on call and I had to deal with another surgeon who wasn't really "there" all the time... hard to reach or get ahold of... Just let me say that I was GLAD to get out of that hospital and get home... I know that there were others that went through the same type of thing I did and we all made very LOUD COMPLAINTS... hopefully that got them in gear and they changed some things.... sounds like they did which is a good thing... Elizabeth~

I had my open rny surgery at St. A in Sept. 2004 with Dr. Fabito who has since retired. The hospital was great. I have no complaints. They took care of me and helped me shower, etc. I had my husband and then a friend stay the night the first two nights. but the next two, I told them they did not need to stay because I was well taken care of. I went online and looked up the section on hospitals where various people had written in about St. Alexius. At that time, I didn't find but maybe one negative comment and many positive ones. I was concerned because I am from Columbia but this was the only surgeon and hospital that my insurance would approve that would do an open rny. So, I felt like it was a God-directed thing because every other surgeon or hospital had fallen through. As far as aftercare, I had a 1-month, 3-month and 6-month appt. After that my surgeon retired and right now I'm just being followed by my primary care physician. There are two bariatric programs here so I know if I have any complications, my pcp will refer me to one of them. So far, so good and 158 lbs. lost. The only interesting thing I read about St. A, and I don't know if it's true or not, is that it was the film location of the movie, The Exorcist. Who knows if that's true or not. But, it ws not a scary hospital at all. Teresa

While we are on the subject of St Alexius- Does anyone know of New Start has started the process of getting their COE? I have asked them but am having trouble getting an answer. I was hoping that someone else has had some success getting questions answered. I had called their office and the peson that answers tells me that I can ask all my questions at the meeting. Well- I would rather know if they can even accept Medicare before I waste my time going to the meeting. I found the "operators" on the phones there very rushed, scripted, and imperssonal which makes me wonder about their care. If this represents the program wrong, I think they had better hire new phone operators.

Teresa... It wasn't just the film location.. IT HAPPENED THERE... Go down into the main front door lobby and you will read about it on the mural display... weird huh?.... of course it has been remodeled so extensively that the rooms where this took place no longer exist... but it sure was freaky reading.... Elizabeth~