Cleveland Clinic Florida Weston Bariatric Center

2/15/04
I just emailed Dr. Rosenthal about my circumstances of being in school 5 hours away but still wanting to take initial steps toward a Lap RNY surgery. He responded within minutes...on a Saturday! He was so courteous and understanding in his email. He definitely seemed like a surgeon that cares about his patients and potential patients. He told me that he would be available during the time I will be home for Spring Break. I have to schedule a consult and meet him.

3/15/04
Well Friday I had my consult with Dr. Rosenthal. Although he answered all my qustions, it seemed that he was in a rush. Which is understandable I guess. But I made sure he answered them all!

I have really only seen Dr. Rosenthal twice for a total of 5 minutes as a patient but he did give the seminar at the support meeting. However, he did do the surgery. He is a very nice man, very sensitive and proud of his record of so many surgeries and no fatalities. He and his partner at Cleveland Clinic have surpassed 1000 WLS.
Dr. R.'s staff is extremely competent and any doctor who trains under him (for a year as residents) is a very well qualified doctor. His clerical staff is understaffed so you do have to be very patient with them and they get the work done, not quickly, but it gets done.

The aftercare program is excellent as is his staff of nutritionists. His support meetings are excellent, too.

I would rate Dr. Rosenthal as an A++++. Highest rating possible!!

<b>8/6/02</b> - I saw Dr Szomstein (Dr Rosenthal's associate) for my consult. He said I'd be an excellent candidate for surgery. YAY! Now I have MANY doctors to see for a clearance and MANY outpatient tests to complete. Dr Szomstein said he and Dr Rosenthal would probably both be in the operating room together and it could be lap or open, it just depends. Great facility though, fantastic staff! Completely happy with my choice of surgeons.
<b>10/15/02</b> - I have a surgery date!!! January 13, 2003! Wooohoooo!!!
<b>12/27/02</b> - I'm approved!!! And just in the nick of time!! My surgery is in 17 days!! I didn't have to do a thing... Dr Rosenthal's office took care of everything with my insurance and got me approved in 2 weeks! Surgery... here I come!
<b>1/28/03</b> - Surgery went fine and Dr Rosenthal took VERY good care of me. He is an excellent surgeon who really cares about his patients. I am so happy with my decision and I feel fantastic!
<b>2/28/03</b> - My checkup went great! I've lost 72lbs in 6 weeks!!! This surgery has been a Godsend. <b>3/7/04</b> - A year has passed and I have lost almost 200 lbs altogether! I have finally gotten my life back and I am so happy I had this surgery a year ago!!

Dr. Rosenthal was highly recommended to me by several people. I am an xray yech and I asked as many radiologists in Weston as I could what they thought about any post op problems he has. They all said he has very few post op complications and has done many of these surgeries. Although the office visit was short, he answered any questions I had and I liked him immediately. Now, I have had a few problems with his staff. Some of them are quite overworked and it shows in how they deal with people. Phone calls never returned, short, curt replies to legitimate questions. But, overall, they did what needed to be done and got me approved after the first try.

My impression of Dr. Rosenthal was a very competent Surgeon.
My impression will never change.
The office staff is wonderful and caring.
I like everyone.
Future patients I wouls highly recommend him as he is caring and well qualified and really knows what he is doing. I researched him out awhile before I decided to have my surgery with Him. I would do it over again with him and his team.
The aftercare is very important, he has given you an opportunity to be able to live agian, but this is only the tool you have to do everything they ask of you to do in order for things to go right.
I am taken care of the the nutritionist that works with Dr. Rosenthal and they guide you along the way. You are never alone. You have acess to email them personally or call them.
The risk of surgery were well told to me and I knew the risks.
I would rate DR. Rosenyhal and his team as EXCELLANT.
Both surgical compentance, bedside manner was great and caring.

My first impression of Dr.Szomstein was very comforting. My husband and I saw him as a very caring and informative surgeon. His eyes showed us first that of a caring person behind the knowledgeable MD/Surgeon title. To have both of these together meant a lot to me. He explained all of the procedure in detail, and answered all of our questions and I want to say he was very patient in doing so. It has now been almost 10 months for me, and I still have the same opinion of him. If not more so, as they do not except my Insurance any longer. But when I saw him at our monthly meeting, I shared with him that the Ins. was not accepted anymore, he reasured me that we are still apart of the family (as he calls it.) and they are only a phone call away.
The office staff seemed to be always to busy to help and at times were not responsive and often times very short tempered. Hopefully, its because they need more employees to help with the load.
My overall experience with the surgery was great and I give them a 9 on a scale of 1-10. Ten being the highest.

that he was very nice and very hansome and that he really cared for my health and highly qualified.

it is still the same.

very nice and they know what they are doing.

nothing

that he is very professional and that he is really hansome prepare your self, lol but really he cares for you alot and loves his pacients.
there are other programs that are in the hospital for pre and post operartion paicients.
calminly and that there would be risks but htat they are low.
11 out of 10
both outstanding.

Dr Szomstein and his staff are amazing. They were very kind and I knew the way he spoke to me that I was finally making the right decision.

WELL I HAD MY CONSALT ON TUESDAY OCT.4 AND
IT WAS WONDERFUL DR.ROSENTHAL AND HIS STAFF
ARE THE NICESEST PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET!!!
I FELT LIKE DR.R LOVES HIS JOB LIKE HE KNOWS
HOW HE IS HELPING PEOPLE AND THAT HE TRULY LOVES IT I AM SO GLAD I DROVE THE 350 MILES
TO BECOME HIS PATIENT NOW I JUST HAVE THE
PRE-OP TESTING THEN I WAIT FOR A DATE IM
SO HAPPY!!!!!

What was your first impression of him/her?WAS SO SWEET CARING AND UNDERSTANDING<CUTE TOO>

How did your impression change over time?IT DIDNT I ONLY MET HIM ONCE!

How would you describe his/her office staff?THEY WERE THE BEST!

What did you like least about him/her?WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE MORE OF HIM!

What should future patients know about him/her?HE WILL ANSWER ANYTHING GO AHEAD DONT BE SHY ITS FOR YOUR HEALTH!

How much does he/she emphasize aftercare?NOT THERE YET!

Does he/she have a structured aftercare program?I HOPE SO!

How did he/she address the risks of surgery?TOLD ME ALL ABOUT THEM!

How would you rate him/her overall?110%

Which is better, surgical competence, bedside
manner, or both great?HE IS JUST A GREAT GUY ALL AROUND! WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN POST OP OF THE OTHERS!
THIS WAS JUST MY OPINION NICE PLACE TO BE VERY CLEAN CALLS WERE RETURNED RIGHT AWAY AND TRUST ME I AM WORLDS BIGGEST COMPLAINER I WILL CALL TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING! THESE ARE GOOD PEOPLE! IM LUCKY TO HAVE HIM THIS IS PRE-OP THOUGHT!