Abbott Northwestern Hospital Bariatric Center

My first impression of Dr. Schwartz was that he new what he was doing and confindate about it. The only change was for the better. The staff was wonderful and very helpful. I really cann't say that there was anything that I didn't like about him. That he is very knowledgeable and willing to share it with you. Aftercare is very important. For what I know I feel the aftercare program is structured. He told you everything about the risks. I would rate him at the top. I belive Dr. Schwartz's surgical competence and bedside manner were great.

I was referred to him by a co-worker and was very comfortable with him from the start. His wife is also his assistant and made the first meeting a great experience for me.I still have the same impression of him, he honestly cares about the people he operates on and felt he was more of a friend guiding me down the road to a healthier life. He is concerned and caring, he described to me what it would be like afterwards and I wasn't as scared. My mother and both sisters went through the surgery over 10 years ago so I had alot of information from them, but Dr Schwartz really put me at ease. When I went in for my 1 year check up I told him that I was expecting a baby and he smiled and said "there's no extra charge" meaning that my weight loss had been the only contributing factor to me being able to finally conceive (my husband and I had tried for 7 years) He was very excited to hear about the baby and told me to make sure I bring her in for the next year follow up. My surgery was different from the ones my family had, I had the laperoscopy bypass, and they had the open, Dr Schwartz answered all my questions and made me and my family feel very comfortable about it. His ability as a surgoen and his bedside manner were both great. I would give him the highest score possible. I just love what he has done for my life and most of all the gift of being able to finally have children.The only negative aspect is his location, he is in the downtown area that I hate going into

VERY IMPRESSED WITH HIM AND ALL HIS STAFF.
HE HAS BEEN A BARIATRIC SURGEON SINCE THE LATE 1960'S AND STAYS AT THE FOREFRONT OF NEW PROCEDURES.
IF YOU HAVE HIM DO THE SURGERY HE IS GOING TO WANT TO KEEP SEEING YOU FOR A VERY LONG TIME. HE TRACKS HIS PATIENTS EXTREMELY WELL.MAINLY BECAUSE HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE DOING OK. THERE IS NO STRUCTURED PROGRAM PER SE THOUGH THERE IS AN AFTERCARE GROUP INFORMAL THAT MEETS IN HIS OFFICE BUILDING TWICE PER MONTH. NO MATTER WHAT SURGEON DID YOUR SURGERY ALL ARE WELCOME

SO FAR I WOULD RATE HIM AS EXCELLENT... I AM HAVING MY SURGERY MARCH FIRST. I WILL GET MORE OF AN IMPRESSION THEN.

I started this process approximately 1 year ago. I finally decided on a surgeon based on this web site. So far, the process has been so-so. Dr. Schwartz's office was very prompt with getting me approved for the surgery. However, getting an appointment or having someome return your phone call from Dr. Schwartz's office is near impossible. I was supposed to have my final consultation on July 12th(which I scheduled in April) and I now have just received a phone call that the appointment will not be until August 16th. I still have yet to get a surgery date which makes it impossible to schedule time off from work and so on. Maybe things will get better! :)8/3--I finally have a surgery date!!! October 23rd...and my consult with the doctor is in less than two weeks...It's finally starting to feel real. 8/17--I met with Dr. Schwartz yesterday...after waiting for almost an hour and a half...I found that he was really nice but I felt the nurses/receptionists were not very professional at all. 10/23--got to hospital today for surgery and it was cancelled. I have been rescheduled to 11/7!!
11/1--I received a message today that my surgery has been cancelled again. No reason was given yet. No new surgery date given yet either.

I THINK DR DREW IS WONDERFUL. HE ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS MY BOYFRIEND AND I HAD. WHICH IN REALALITY WEREN'T VERY MANY, BECAUSE HE TOLD US EVERYTHING IN DETAIL. HE WAS MATTER OF FACT AND DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY FALSE HOPES. TOLD ME IT WAS MY JOB TO BECOME THIN AND TO EAT RIGHT AND THIS OPERATION WAS JUST A TOOL TO HELP. HE WAS WONDERFUL AT THE HOSPITAL. HE DID ALOT OF THINGS HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO...LIKE CHANGED A BANDAGE AND FIX MY SOCKS. HE REALLY CARES ABOUT YOU.
HE TOLD ME TO COME SEE HIM FOR POST OP CARE AND WHAT TO EXSPECT AND IF I HAD ANY PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER TO CALL THE OFFICE. I THINK OVER ALL THAT HE IS WONDERFUL!
PS THE ONLY BAD THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT ITS HARD TO GET A SURGERY DATE AND HE IS VERY BUSY! BUT IF YOU CAN WAIT FOR HIM IT IS WELL WORTH IT!

The process with Dr. Schwartz was very efficient and he impressed on my husband and me that he would do everything possible to make this the most successful experience that he could. As a diabetic, there was worry about doing a LAP and working around the possible size of my liver, but the LAP went through, thanks to God and Dr. Schwartz.

The office staff have been very helpful so much so that they were able to bump up my surgery date to accomodate a change in my insurance which would have increased what I would pay for the surgery out of pocket by several thousand dollars. I am grateful to them for that. Judy Schwartz, R.N. works closely with her husband and usually facilities the information sessions preopt for interested patients. She has helped me a lot getting through the process and getting through the insurance processes (only at the end of this process did I realize the policy we were covered by was a pilot project for Federal employees and would expire on 12/31/01).

The only problem I had was because the surgery was bumped up, it was scheduled at a time that Dr. Schwartz was heading out of town for a conference, so I have not seen him since the surgery. I did see a PA in his office who helped a lot immediately after surgery when I experienced severe chest and shoulder pains.

Aftercare--meetings with dieticians, followup at 3 wks and then every three months after that. There is also a support group that meets regularly in the building where his office is.

Risks of surgery--Dr. Schwartz went over all the risks of the surgery during his consultation with my husband and myself. I also did some research before hand and knew what questions I needed answers to (although I find I always have more).

I would rate Dr. Schwartz as excellent in his work with me.

Which is better--I would have to say surgical competence at this time as I didn't see him much bedside! But he sent his wife and she was great!

Dr. Schwartz and his staff are the absolute best! He takes all necessary precautions and informs patients of the risks and benefits of surgery. I was in the best hands!

He was nice and to the point. It has stayed the same. I met him at my consultation and then I'll talk with him again after surgery. His staff is very helpful and positive. He emphasizes working with the dietician for aftercare and also the weight loss group meetings. The aftercare is somewhat structured. He also addressed the fact that people who have been diagnosed with depression and have been on medication will have a more difficult time losing weight or the amount won't be as much as someone who hasn't. I would give him a 10 out of 10 so far.

His bedside manner isn't the greatest. I have not seen him since the day of my surgery. I choose to see his PA Kelly. My pain after was not taken very seriously and being an RN I was angry about this. I needed a hosp. bed after I came home and he questioned why I needed it. I couldn't sleep laying down for 6 days. I had to call the paramedics once at noc because I got so scared from the pain. I couldn't get out of my bed. I felt helpless, even being a medical professional. It is different when you personally go thru it. I went home the next day after the lap procedure. I couldn't swallow the percocet tabs and had to call the oncall surgeon for liquid percocet. I need a stronger pain med that is for sure!!! I get so irritated when pt's can't get control for their pain! I was not a happy camper.

I am scheduled for surgery on 2/5/02 but have not met my surgeon yet. My appointment has been rescheduled four times. The latest appointment date I have is this coming Thurs. I am somewhat nervous, not knowing what to expect at that appointment.

The office staff seems a nice friendly group but a little disorganized to me. My paperwork was lost the first time and I had to redo it.

I would like my doctor to have both those qualities, surgical competence and good bedside maner.