Researching moving to OKC...

I'm putting my resumes out different places with OKC being one of them. I'm hoping to have the surgery here before moving but would need to a surgeon there for follow up appointments. Any recommendations/suggestions? Thanks, Kim

Hi Kimberly, Oklahoma is a great place to live. I was born and raised here and enjoy it. I live in the Tulsa area, which is about 90 miles from OKC. I think on the left side of the screen where it says "Oklahoma Forum", under the heading of Message Board, you can click on "Bariatric Surgeons" and it will list all those in Oklahoma and you can read the comments their patients have left. It will at least be a start for you until you can get some feedback from others living in the OKC area. Good luck with your job search and possible move. Staci

Kim; I would highly recommend Dr. Walton and the Weightwise program, www.weightwise.org is the website. They have a complete program with surgeons, nutritionists, Exercise trainers, Psychologist, Hospital & Emergency room for Bariatric patients and more. We have a support group meeting every month open to anyone and everyone, a nutrition store and a gym at the hospital. If you check out my profile, you can see photos of the hospital and gym and learn what a wonderful experience I had with them. Best of luck with your job search! Jane

Hi Kim I have been here 5 years...I moved from West Virginia....and its taken about 5 years to start liking it,lol....( dont tell the natives , but its FLAT here,lol)....anyway , you could certainly do worse I am having my surgery at Norman Regional Hospital which is a medicare approved Center of Excellence...Dr. Keith is doing the surgery .....OKC is just 1/2 hour North of Norman ( I think , I actually live in the boonies east of there) ...depending on what you are used to, and what your nearest big town is( Cinncinnatti, Louisville etc) it IS different out here...a lot more casual in almost all respects it seems like ...but I certainly think that if you end up here , you wont have any trouble finding an excellent doctor for follow up ....and there are several docs in the metro area to choose from...good luck , Debbi

I have an appointment with Dr Lana Nelson for a consult next Teusday have you heard anything about her? She is Dr. Keiths partner. Thanks Kay

While I dont personally know her , I have heard some good stuff about her in the support group meetings ....the place up in Edmond is new and just for bariatrics ...but OWLO is the only ASBS Center of Excellence in the state ( thats why us Medicare patients go there) ... I think its a great place .... and you can ask me next week about the experience in Norman Regional , as I have my surgery Sept.25( next Monday )

Hi Kim. I am from Louisiana. my surgeon moved to Oklahoma City in JUne. im not sure the name of the place but it is in Oklahoma City and he is there with 4 other surgeons I believe. He moved over there to do strictly weight loss surgeries. His name is Dr. Toby Broussard and I promise you he is the BEST...... He did my surgery in May before he left, and i promise you there were alot of tears shed about him leaving. I highly recommend you contact him.............................. Kateri

Kim, I work with Dr. Walton and Dr. Broussard both were mentioned in previous posts. I would like to welcome you to call us we would love to have you. Both of these doctors are wonderful. I guarantee you that they would take wonderful care of you. We are located in Edmond. Call 866-948-9473 and any of the girls could help you. I am actually doing my surgery there in October and would recommend it to anyone even if I did not work there. You can also check out the website at weightwise.org Thanks, Lisa

I highly recommend that you wait and have your surgery once you have moved. It is much easier to have your follow-ups with the surgeon who originally does your surgery. Dr. Gornichec is a very skilled surgeon with a great reputation. He is director of bariatrics at Integis Baptist Medical Center and previously the director at Edmond Medical Center before it closed its program. You can find him listed under the bariatric surgeons. He is relocating his office to Integris Baptist on Oct. 1 and his phone number is (405) 713-4450. Good luck.

There are two doctors I've learned about that are outstanding: Dr. Walton (mentioned in another post) and Dr. Keith, who operates out of Norman Regional Hospital. Some things to consider: Watch out for elderly doctors. Just because they're 'more experienced' does not mean they are good. Do a background check on your doctor (like searching The Oklahoman, local newspaper's archives)...if your prospective doctor has been allegedly arrested for a DUI, run don't walk away! (Shows poor decision making/judgement no matter how old the arrest record is.) Most important: check out the hospital and their policies towards surgical counts with gastric bypass surgeries. My surgeon, Dr. Henry J. Pearce, & Edmond Medical Center left a surgical sponge inside my body with horrible, devastating results. I am lucky to be alive! According to the director of surgical services at Edmond Medical Center (testimony), "Edmond Medical Center does NOT require a sponge count during gastric bypass surgeries." My lawsuit with Dr. Henry J. Pearce and Edmond Medical Center was settled on 9/20/06. The lawsuit may be settled, but I am still experiencing a "living death" and the problems induced by the sponge are on-going. Research your doctor thoroughly (including arrest records, lawsuits, etc.) and DO NOT go into a hospital assuming they have your best interests at hand. Research the surgical counts policies! Kudos to the Integris Baptist Hospital, tho! They've recognized that there is a big problem with this and have taken pro-active steps using modern technology to track surgical sponges.