Miami Hope Center Bariatric Center

-He's young and not very talkative but highly recommended by a personal friend-surgeon as the best in gastric by-pass surgery.
-He still a quiet person but very nice and COMPLACENT.
-Most of the staff is very good. Only one particular person who is not too convincing.
-I got what I wanted and more, he is a professional.
-Does very clean scars almost invisible scars!
-Gives everything in writing, encourages immediate walking, and goes to the monthly support groups.
-Supports the website and attends support groups but aftercare program could be better.
-Told me all the risks and how it could affect my personal/social lifestyle.
-Although his personality is quiet, he is very sweet, low keyed and tries to please the patient.
-Surgical competence is the most important, yet beside manner for hospital stays is extremely important.

My first impression of Dr. Rabaza was great! He explained everything in detail to me. How it would be done, how it would affect me personally and the people around me. He guided me as to what I should look forward to and what I needed to do before and after. The day of surgery he was absolutely great and reassuring. Follow ups were great and totally comprehensive, he made sure that I was doing good and if I needed anything him and his staff always helped me as much as they could. If I had to rate him from 1-10 I would give him a 15!! <=0)

The best thing about his feelings about aftercare is that he understands that it is difficult but he gives you specifics as to what to eat and what not to eat which is what has helped me. He gave me a list of do's and don'ts that I still go by 6 months later.

I have to admit, I was a little upset over the 2 1/2 hr wait for his intial consultation which was a group, not individual like I thought, but he was very informative, was clear on any risks involved. I didnt hear much about aftercare, but Iam sure that will come. I managed to see him the same day for a one on one but spent a total of 5hrs at the office. He took his time with me once I was able to talk with him and made me feel much more comfortable about the whole procedure. It was clear the office staff is greatly overworked but they were still were courteous. Dr Gonzalez's office is very very busy, thats what I like the least. Dr. Gonzalez has a good reputation, so does all the surgeons in his group. Iam looking forward to surgery the end of Sept. I will keep you updated!

Dr. Gonzalez is good. He explains everything, although, he didn't have to explain anything to me, because I was very, very well informed. He was amazed :). His staff was curtious and really wanted to help, although getting thru to them was a pain. I understand because they have lots of patients and I am sure they receive hundreds of calls a day. But, they were very good to return phone calls.

I met with Dr Gonzalez. Had to wait a long time approximately 2 hrs. I thought that it was going to be a one to one but it was a group meeting. He was very matter of fact and I felt confortable with him. have a scheduled appt on the 14 th of August . In the mean time I will get my paper work ready. His staff was very courteous. He seems to be a kind person . The only negative is the wait.

My first impression of Dr. Rabaza was very comforting. He went through every detail of the surgery and of how everything works. The most important thing was he was very honest with me and at the same time very re-assuring. The staff at his office is great. They help you with anything you need. The main highlight of my surgeon and his partners at the office is that I always received quick responses from them, especially post-op. The stay at the hospital was great thanks to them, I received a visit from one of them every day and night. When my surgery I had a minor blood clot therefore unable to have the tube in my nose removed, the doctor made 15 calls to radiology that night for results on my follow up x-ray until satisfied and had the tube removed that night. As an overall I think Dr. Rabaza and his partners Verdeja and Gonzalez are a facinating team to have had my surgery with.

<font face="garamond" color="purple"><b>Today is June 19, 2002</b> Went for my follow up appointment. I am 2 weeks and one day post op and have lost 25 pounds :-) Waited 3 hours in Dr. Gonzalez's office! Unbelievable but everything is going so well, so I won't complain. ~Diane~
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<b>Today is May 29, 2002</b> Went into Dr. Gonzalez office with my pre-approval authorization number and all the information he needed. Carmen is the woman who handles all of the insurance side for the doctors office. She was amazed and even hugged me for doing all of the leg work :-) My surgery date is scheduled for June 4, 2002! That is 6 days!! There was a cancellation while I was in there.
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<b>Today is May 8th, 2002</b> I decided to reschedule my appointment with Gonzalez because BCBS is requesting a Psych Evaluation along with a detailed diet history. I would like to have my pre-approval before our next visit. I also scheduled my appointment with the Pulmonary doctor. Both appointments are on May 29th.
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<b>Today is May 1st, 2002</b> I went to the group meeting at Dr. Gonzalez's office this morning. It was very informative and direct. You learn the good and bad regarding the surgery and your life change afterwards. He requests a Psych Evaluation and a Pulmonary clearance. He will give you the name of the doctors he wants you to see. The Pulmonary doctor is no problem he is under my insurance. But the Psychiatrist he wants you to see charges $400.00 for the evaluation. I scheduled it with a doctor in my own network and will give her an outline of what he wants. I refuse to pay to wash someone else's hand. If approved he will get $25,000 for the surgery, I think that is enough, don't you? Again, I was there 3 hours! His office tried to charge me the $200.00, but I only paid the co-payment. BCBS insured me that the visit would be covered. My next appointment (one on one) is May 8th.
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<b>Today is April 26, 2002</b> I met with Dr. Gonzalez on April 10th, 2002 for the first time. I like Dr. Gonzalez's approach but agree with everyone else, the wait is ridiculous (3 hours in the waiting room and 7 minutes in the room)!! Calling his office for an appointment or to ask question is like an act of congress. Be patient and put it on speaker. It is worth the wait thus far. The staff is great, very friendly and attentive to each and everyone. But don't have enough hands and ears for all the patients. I have an appointment with the group on May 1, 2002. He charges $200.00! Because the insurance does not cover the first consultation without pre-approval. So, since I don't have $200.00 to give him I decided to go the pre-approval route and felt it would be best so they would cover it from beginning to end (HOPEFULLY THEY'LL APPROVE IT)!!

5/19/02~ My original surgeon had to be switched. It felt like eternity waiting for my consultaion and now he can't see me on the scheduled date because of some restructuring in his office. So rather than to continue waiting for a further date, I chose to have my consultation with one of his colleagues. Dr. Anthony Gonzalez is my new choice. 3½ weeks to start this venture.
6/12/02~ I met Dr. Gonzalez. He vivacious and eager to explain every detail about Weight loss surgery. I am happy the lord chose him for me. He is very knowledgeable in the matter and made me feel very comfortable and at ease towards all my worries and skepticism in refernce to going ahead with this option. I am now more willing than ever to do this drastic meassure.

I have met with Dr. Anthony Gonzalez twice, the first time in a group setting and the second time for my personal consultation. I really liked his personality. He doesn't pull any punches and tells it just like it is, no sugar-coating from him. His office staff is awesome. The only thing that I didn't like about my visits (both times) with Dr. Gonzalez was the wait. It was HORRIBLE. But, obviously it didn't shy me away from wanting him to be the one to operate on me. Aftercare is very important to your success from what Dr. Gonzalez preaches to us. I attended one of the support group meetings that is held at a local hospital that he recommends highly. I learned quite a bit from that one meeting. I plan on becoming very active with the monthly meetings. From what I can tell so far, I would rate Dr. Gonzalez and his knowledge about this surgery a "10". Let's hope I can give him the same rating after surgery, but I believe I'll be able to.

He was very nice. He drew on a board exactly how the procedure is done. Told me what to expect. Gave literature to read, introduced me to his secretary. Advised me to see a psychiatrist to make sure I was emotionally ready to take this step. I was very impress with him. I waited seven month to see him. He came very hightly recomended.