Choosing A Doctor

Hi all! I hope you guys do not mind if I ask a question or two. I have considered this surgery for some time now, and battled back and forth with doing it or not. Recently a coworker had it done and she says it is worth it and the best thing she has ever done, and would do it all again... So I have decided once again that this is what I want to do. So, my question is... I intially had a referal because I have etna, but I see there are several people on the board that did NOT accept the 1st doctor they chose or was assigned. What are the pros and cons of choosing and why would a person not allow a certain doctor to preform their surgery. I know one has to RESEARCH, but what am I looking for? I noticed that some surgeons are Board Certified and some are not.. what is the diffrence? Thanx All

Hi Shellie Well 1st yes you have to research your surgeon and you want to know his experience and success you wan to talk to his patients and you want to meet him/her...Some people didn't hit it off with thier surgeons and felt it was best to go somewhere else so they did.... Everyones reason are really different too....but I hope this helps you... I research for more than a year on my surgeon and I knew I wanted him to do my surgery but the problem was he was not here in NY so I went no further......and some months later I got lucky he opened his office here in NY so I went to see him and I just loved him.... This person holds the experience he has and you put your life in his hands so you do need to like your surgeon and be comfortable with him/her... I wish you the best of luck in finding the answers to your questions and finding a surgeon you want.... Christine

Coqui, Christine basically said it. I have Aetna as well and there are quite a few surgeons in NYC who accept that insurance so that was no the problem. Often your PCP may have a surgeon they know of who they refer you to and may folks are inclined to go with that recommendation. That's fine in some cases - but ONLY YOU can determine your level of comfort with a particular surgeon. You have to check for his credentials, where he practices medicine, what schools he went to, how long has he been a surgeon, what other kind of surgery does he do, how long as he been doing bariatric surgery, what types of bariatric surgeries does he do, what is his track record of surgeries, how many does he do a week, how many fatalities has he had, what hospital is he affiliated with, what is the reputation of the hospital, etc. ALL OF THIS was important to me and this is why I turned down the first surgeon I considered (who one of my best friends used) because he did not do laparoscopic RNY. I wasn't willing to opt for an open incision when I qualified for laparo just because he didn't know how to do them. This also made me question his experience overall. My second choice has about a million patients. His admin staff sucked. He was far too busy. Too many folks I know had "complications" post-op. The hospital he was affiliated with was slowly going downhill over the past 5 - 7 years. So I crossed him off the list. The 3rd choice was the one. Good reputation. Solid credentials. Great history. Excellent references. Wonderful recommendations from real people. A professional and caring staff. A great rapport with me - and I felt confident that he knew his job well and would see me safely to the other side. So that's my explanation. All the best to you and PLEASE do your research.

shelli- the reason i didn't use the first surgeon i met was because he wanted to do a procedure vgb which from everything i read was considered out dated, and results weren't as good as other types of wl procedures. i wanted a rny but the first doctor i met didn't want to "hear" about it. i didn't want a doctor that wouldn't listen to what i wanted. the doctor (dr. rubenstein,patchogue, ny) i ended up using wasn't the most friendliest when i first met him but he listen to what i wanted to have done. i actually found him while researching wls, he was interviewed for serveral articles in ny newsday. i figured if newsday intereviewed him he must be highly respected in his field. to be honest with you, the nurse who coordinates my doctor's program was the one who sold him on me. she's amazing !!! my doctor turned out to be one of the most nicest, caring and kindest person i've ever met. i'm very lucky to have him as my doctor. donna open rny mar 18 2003 282/135/135