Daniel Smith Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

Dr. Smith was very nice and friendly and informative. I was very pleased with him. He checked in on me every day as did his staff. They were very competent and knew what they were talking about. They always had answers to my questions. I was not sent home until they felt I was ready. I have my regular appointments now after surgery so I feel I am being well watched over. I know they are just a phone call away if I need help with anything. On a scale of 1-10...I would say I found myself a #10 doctor. :)

Dr. Smith and his PA Sandy Jones were absolutely awsome! They (and everyone at the clinic and hospital) were very friendly and took all the time we needed to answer all our questions. I can honestly say that I have nothing but good things to say about them. A great big thank you goes out to Dr. Smith and Sandy!!! The nurses at the hospital were the best!

My first impression of Dr Smith was that he was serious but kind and gentle.
After the surgery I never saw him again during my 3 day stay, but I had no complications at all. I see him again next week.

I have to add that I chose Dr Smith after alot of research and I chose him based on 2 things only. His surgical competence and his work/life balance. He actually has a life outside of the surgery room and that was important to me.

My 1st impression of Dr. Smith was he was a nice man but he talked fast and I couldn't understand him all that well as he kind of spoke under his breath, so I needed to slow him down. I felt very confident with him as a surgeon and was thrilled with my results. I was thrilled with the hospital and staff and couldn't believe how smoothly everything went on surgery day. I know others who have since gone to him and have been pleased, but I think they need to educate patients more on needed vitamins and supplements for after surgery care. They do have monthly meetings there that I don't go to as they are far from my home so I go to a support group that is closer to my home. I would recommend Dr. Smith to anyone as he did a great job and had a fantastic staff that answered all my questions. They were able to get me in for my first meeting and surgery in record time as my insurance didn't need to be ok'd first so I was had a surgery date within a week of my meeting with him. This was great for me, but I fear that people that haven't educated themselves very well on this procedure, are getting this done before they really know what they are getting into. It isn't a walk in the park, but definately a place I would go back to.

I really like him. He is quiet but if you have a question ask and he will give you the answers.

My impression has not changed of Dr, Smith he and his team were great.

His staff are great and if you have any questions all you have to do is call them.

Maybe that he was to quiet.

He has a very good bed side manner and he will also let you know if you are not doing as well as expected and find out why. He will also make suggestions.

They have you return first a month and if doing well then every three months. As I get farther out from surgery I am expecting that to change.

He was very frank about the surgery and any complication that might occur.

I would rate my experience with Dr. Smith Excellent as well as his staff.

I would say that both his surgical competence and his bedside manner were great.


On a side note: My surgery was done at the St. Joseph's hospital in Park Rapids. The nurses on the B'ward were very wonderful. Even some of the had had the surgery and were very caring about how you felt and made sure that you were walking and doing what you needed to do right after surgery. If I had to do it all over again for any reason I would not hesitate. I felt they were there to support me in my choice.

My only negative was that you seemed to be checked all the time and that because it was so far away from my home and family they could not come to visit. That I think is why everyone was especially nice to me.

My first impression of Dr. Smith would be misleading. My sister is his physician's assistant, Sandy Jones. I had talked to a few people who had the surgery and were pleased with the results. After thinking about it for awhile, I finally talked to Sandy about it. She did nothing to encourage or discourage me, she simply told me how it was. She left it totally up to me to decide.

It took me close to a year to decide to have the surgery. From there, things went pretty fast. I went to the "marathon" appointment, where they presented the information and answered nearly every question I had, without even asking them. The staff is very well informed.

Dr Smith and his staff have a well defined program before, during and after. They do not leave anything to chance. If you follow their program, you will succeed.

I do not think it would be fair of me to give an overall rating considering my bias. I can just say that I am completely satisfied with the sugery and care I received. I am 11 months post surgery and have lost 103 lbs and am at my goal weight. I feel fantastic.

I was very impressed with Dr. Smith as well as his remarkable staff. He was friendly, professional and explained this precisely in a manner I could understand although I did have a little touble in the beginning of our consult hearing him as he does speak a little quietly. I asked him tough questions that didn't make him uncomfortable at all in answering. He even chuckled with me at one point. Sandy as well as everyone that I've talked to at Dakota clinic are extremely friendly and will explain things just as thoroughly as you need. The town is a great little country kind of place and makes me feel right at home. Structured Aftercare is VERY important to Dr. Smith and his staff and that was VERY important to me as well. I didn't want to be left out in the cold.
The consult was a half-day sort of conference that was GREAT and informative.
I had heard only very good things about Dr. Smith, the hospital and Dr. Smith's staff from people in my area. At this point in my journey, I would rate them all highly. Surgery on the 24th so will report on that then!

Very nice perswon. Understanding. They didn't. Sandy Jones is his assistant and she is AWESOME! This surgon does alot of surgeries every week and he is very good at what he does. Aftercare is very important. We talked about everything plus he knew that my mom had just had it done 1 year before. I would give Dr. Smith and Sandy a 9. I would give the hospital care a 9 also. Both are great.

I really like Dr. Smith. My first impression of him was that he was a quiet man, but very knowledgable. His office staff was wonderful with all of my questions and concerns. The hospital staff was also great, even though it is a VERY small place!

I met my surgeon on April 15th at the Dakota Clinic in Park Rapids, MN. I had previously been told what a nice, friendly guy he was, and I have to agree. He seemed open and genuine and I felt relaxed in his presence, although he did seem to speak quite fast, and if I didn't know that he was a very busy man I might have thought he wasn't interested in me as a patient. He did offer me the chance to ask any questions, but they had already been answered at my consultation. His staff are VERY NICE and seem to really care about us and our situation. This clinic has given me the best customer service of all that I have ever been to. During the consultations with the dietitian, social worker, physician's assistant, etc. everything you could imagine about the surgery was covered. We were sent a book before we came to the consultation, which was very informative, and then also given another packet at the meeting that further described the surgery and its risks, etc. Overall I would rate Dr. Daniel Smith as an excellent person and I'm very confident that he will be a teriffic surgeon as well!