Cleveland Clinic Florida Weston Bariatric Center
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Dr. Szomstein was very helpful and also quite funny. At first I was confused about the surgery, but after my first visit i was very exicted about surgery. The office staff is not so friendly, sometimes I guess due to the large number of patients their workload is also very heavy. Anita in auth is very helpful and also very patient. So i said to myself at least someone in the office is pleasant.
Before you get enticed into this group ask for EVERYTHING in writing. I made the mistake of trusting the doctor and this office staff on the first visit when they said I had to have X doctors visit done and X tests done and then I could call for a surgery date. Now 4 months later, almost all the tests and visits completed they change the rules and are asking for upfront money of 300.00 for a dietician that I was told I didn't need to have an appointment with to get the surgery date. So far this place has billed my insurance around 6,000 and I have gotten nothing except attitude from their office staff. They changed there policy in August and never bothered to tell me and this is after I just put out 150.00 out of pocket for a in house psychologist that still hasn't written a report but had no prob cashing my check ASAP.
Also you have all these tests done and never get a call or your calls answered with the results. They didn't even have my bloodwork in the folder for the office visit for the endocrinologist and then they didn't order the blood test I needed so I had to go back and get this done again. Very disorganized but I should have known when on my initial visit I was sitting waiting for Rosenthal to come in and he never did so I ended up meeting with his assistant. When I came out of the room they had forgotten I was even in there and said the DR had gone to lunch.
Dr. Szomstein performed a revision of my gastric band in May of 2003. My band had erroded through my stomach, after 15 years inside me, with no proper follow up to it. My first impression of him was that of a caring, professional, knowledgable doctor who took each case as an individual. I never had to deal with any of the issues of acceptance for billing or anything else to deal with anyone other than the nurses and Dr Szomstein, Dr. Rosenthal and Dr. Podkameni.
There care, their compassion and their work saved my life and stopped the pain and suffering i was going through. Im on my own now, and as much as I love them, I hope i never have to see them for any more gastric surgery. I am on my own now, I have to watch everything I eat and change my lifestyle, as I have no more band or anything to prohibit weight gain.
I rate them 200%!
There is not a single negitive thing i have to say about them.
I had my first appointmrnt with DR. Rosenthal in April,@ clevelend clinic, He was very nice and informative. The first visit was very short. But he did answered all the questions I had.
In these past months, my experience with his office staff is concerning, they never return calls, when you finally get them on the phone after weeks of trying, they rush you off that you forget to ask them all the questions you had.
The hospital is great, the hospital staff is the best I have ever experienced, they treat you with respect, kindness and are very attentive. the building is beutiful, and the rooms even better.
I will recommend the doctor to any body, I have not had surgery yet, but had all my test and procedures done here.
They do have an aftercare program, meetings, website.
Dr. Rosenthal and Szomstein, have a great bedside manner and are both great.
I've met with Dr. Szomstein once, so far, for the initial evaluation. He struck me as a very kind, caring person, with a lot going on behind his eyes. I was very confident in his knowledge after discussing my options & the surgery with him. I have since done research & confirmed he has not had any lawsuits filed against him, he has never had his surgical permissions removed, and he is board certified. I am driving down to Weston from Orlando, Florida. I feel it is worth the 3.5 hour trip.
In regards to the office staff, I would recommend that you document all of your call dates, who you spoke with & what they said. And call often, to make sure your needs are being addressed. I was initially not excited about the slightly rushed attitudes I sometimes encountered, but as I have talked to these women, I have learned that they are just really over loaded, but are genuinely interested in helping. The best advice I can give would be help them to help you. Stay on top of your insurance carrier; make sure that records get where they need to go, etc. Work together to make things happen.
Dr. Rosenthal is a very nice man. I really don't have any complaints about him in specific. My main complaint is with the office staff at Cleveland Clinic (the WLS section). They don't follow up, don't follow through and are sometimes rude on the phone. I highly suggest either replacing their office staff or adding additional staff to the office. If this doen't happen, more and more patients will be going somewhere else to get the surgery done. That would be a pretty sad thing considering Dr. Rosenthal has such a wonderful gift and reputation.
I had my lap banding surgery on Feb 7, 2003 with Dr Szomstein. Before surgery I was very anexious and my blood pressure was going up very high. Dr Szomstein, came in to see me and just sat down next to me and told me to relax that everything would be fine. He was and is very compassionate..He spoke to husband and then I was off to the OR. Once I was out of surgery and in my room. Dr S came to visit me and tell me how everything went. I was feeling pretty good. Just a little discomfort. He came in to see once more before he left for the day. The next day I went home. And with 4-5 days I was pretty much doing everything. I went for my 10 day post op appt and had lost 15 pounds..I have not had any complications so far. I have had very little discomfort. I have had two fills. Dr Szomstein was wonderful each time I have went in for one a fill..As of today almost six months post op I have lost 47 pounds.. And feel so much better.. I can not say enough wonderful things about Dr Szomstein and his staff... Dr Szomstein is a very compassionate, personable and caring physician. I am so happy with the choice I made and most of all my choice in choosing Dr Szomstein. I wish everyone the best!! And if I can be of any help to anyone please email me.
3/5/03
Dr. Szomstein is a good guy, he was very informative and answered all my questions. From our short talk I would say he is a competent and confident surgeon, very knowledgeable. I just wish they had more than one nutritionist so I didn't have to wait so long!
7/19/03
Dr S is a very caring and professional surgeon. When I was in the pre-op room he tried to get my wedding ring off using a piece of string so we wouldn't have to cut it... it didn't work, but it is indicative of his attitude towards patients that he spent 10 minutes doing that for me. He has many fellows (associates) at the Cleveland Clinic who are learnig to do the surgery, and they are all also learning his manner with patients. He listens carefully to you and tells you straight what will happen, or his advice.
A complete professional who inspires confidence. Not a hand-holder or a talker, but clearly committed to being at the top of his profession and to seeing that his patients get the best care and long term outcome - i.e. the really important things. No sense of commercialism or production line mentality. Associates and nurses and office staff are generally excellent.