Bergen Laparoscopy & Bariatric Associates Bariatric Center

I think that Dr. Ibrahim is one of the nicest doctors I have ever met - and I have met a lot of doctors. I feel that his staff has been very kind and helpful in all areas. since I started going to his office and group meetings a few months ago my life has already started to change - I am very gratefulfor all the things they have taught me about...including the following: pre-op, during and what to expect after. I think it would be nice if the post-op food plan was a bit more appealing - but I guess we have to be imaginative.

I really like him, he is very thorough! I think all the staff at the Wish Center are amazing.
When I asked Dr. Strain, what people have done who have been more successful, he said "Support groups". I have already attended a support group and look forward to attending them after surgery. He spoke in great detail about the risks involved. Overall I would rate him A+++.

The WISH Center, Renton, WA is a very supportive and helpful place for WLS. I met with psychologist, exercise physiologist, nutritionist, insurance/payment coordinator and surgeon. All seem very supportive, informed and very familiar with their roles and jobs. I have my pre-op appointment scheduled for 08-23-04 and my open RNY is scheduled for 09-15-04.

The WISH Center encourages support groups and provides access to as much assistance as you need throughout the process. This WLS is a major life changing decision, and I feel very comfortable with my decision to use the WISH Center and its staff.

Very personable and understanding. Really wanted to be sure I had a support system and used all the options available to me with the Wish Center. The office staff are very nice. I enjoyed my visits with all the specialists. Stacy is the 1st contact, and she has been great answering my questions, reassuring me , and helping me gather all my information. Norma is in charge of financing/insurance and she celebrated with me on the phone when I got my approval. Patients should know if you are approved for laprscopic rny both Drs have to be in ther, so you get both their experience and special attention. The wish center has a very good support system , I have recieved emails from my personal support person, as well as there are after care support groups and counseling.

He is a excellent doctor. I went to his seminar and he was very clear and realistic about this type of surgery. I have total confidency with him. He and Dr. Stephanie are world class doctors.

When i met Dr. Ibrahim at the info seminar i was pretty impressed. He seemed very friendly and personable. Dr Ibrahim was very informed about the surgery and answered everyones questions honestly, wether good or bad.
I had my private consult on 2/24. I met with the female doctor in his practice. i wont attempt to spell her name of the top of my head. She was very nice and answered all of my questions. i was weighed and asked some questions. The doctor then looked at my stomach and bellybutton and said i was a candidate for surgery.
The doctor then explained that there is a $7200 doctors fee. For the gastric bypass the doctor doesnt participate in any health insurance. so he is considered "out of network". each insurance company will have differnt stipulations and it all depends on your plan. so everything will be covered 100% other than that. so right now it looks like i may have to pay anywhere from $3500 to $5000 out of pocket.
I got my surgery date from devorah, his nurse. which by the way, she is an angel. so nice, so patient. you can call her ten times a day and she will answer every questions everytime you call. she calls back very quickly too. maryland, the insurance specialist is very sweet. she'll keep it real with you, but that is totally a good thing. honestly, everyone i came across in the office was great. i really dont ANY negative things to say at this point and hopefully i wont. you can just really tell that everyone really cares. just sitting in the waiting room you would see people come in that have had the surgery. all the nurses would know their names, have a genuine look on their faces when they said how great they looked. it was a very nice experience.
i have my surgery date set for April 10th at englewood hospital. i am still waiting for approval from Oxford. maryland said they should know by late march. so that's it for now. in the mean time i have set up all my appointments for all the tests you have to get done before hand. i will keep everyone posted.

My first impression of Dr. I was during the information session. He was knowledgable, willing to answer all questions, thorough, and gave me complete confidence in him. I called around 8 different offices in the NY metro area before selecting a surgeon, and the introduction I received to Dr. I's office was through Devorah, the nurse coordinator. I cannot praise her enough. She took time with me, provided me with as much information as I wanted, and has been a continuing source of reassurance and encouragement. Englewood hospital was excellent. I was completely taken care of, the nursing staff was attentive, pleasant and completely professional. The overall experience was fantastic, really. Scale of 1-10? 10 all the way!

Dr. Ibrahim was low keyed and had a pleasant demeanor. He office was very busy and I had to wait over an hour before I even got in to see his nurse. Devorah, RN is wonderful and case manages the Bariatric patients for this busy Surgical Practice.
Insurance specialist, Marilyn, also very pleasant.
Found out that MD is a covered doctor for
VASCULAR surgery only. Bergen Bariatrics has its own tax ID #, which is how they bill for the Surgical Fee. Cigna PPO does not even recognize Bariatrics as a specialty; thereby he is considered "out of network" for this procedure. (they are VERY sneaky those insurance companies--BEWARE).
Strong before care and after care program.
It is an absolute necessity for success.
Detailed risks, adverse effects, and percentages of those adverse effects were presented by his Junior partner in an earlier group presentation. This included his RN, Devorah, and his Insurance Spec.
MD saw me briefly (5 minutes) and examined my abdomen. For me, I am more interested in surgical competance. Skill, precision, nice clean surgery, minimal time under anesthesia. Nurses are the best in bedside manner anyway -- AND they keep the doctors organized.

Dr. Ibrahim was caring and compassionate. He answered all of my questions. since my surgery is scheduled i cannot offer more @ this time, but will keep posting updates.

In my own personal individual opinion, my surgeon Doctor Ibrahim and all his office staff seemed to be very in 'sync' and positive professional indiviuals.
It was a real pleasure dealing with each and every one of them, I told all my friends that I was glad I had chosen him to be my surgeon.
I was really amazed, that even when I went to the Englewood Hospital to have the pre-op tests done,etc., everybody was in 'sync', and all papers were there before me and a couple tests which were ordered later by the doctor, they went ahead and sent me upstairs to have done and called the nurse at the doctors office to write them and fax them over, instead of all the delays, etc.
I cant tell you how great it was dealing with people who were pleasant and so together, teamwork was definately a plus for all people I dealt with.
How many times have we all been to doctors and the staff didn't know what the other staff or even what the doctor was doing? Or the paperwork held us up, and testing took forever? These people were amazing, so on the ball!
The only thing I can say that I wasn't too pleased about was when I went for my last pre-op office visit to sign the consent forms, etc. I didn't actually see my surgeon, I saw his nurse and an associate doctor in the office, whom I hadn't seen before. He was helpful and asked if I was ready or nervous and he answered all questions that I had at that time, but, I would have preferred to see my surgeon. Also, I had assumed that the first post-op check-up appointment would have been like a week after surgery it wasn't until 17 days after I got out of the hospital. I would have been happier to have gone in sooner.
All-in-all, I really doubt I could have had a more pleasant experience with any other doctor or hospital. Thank God Almighty.