David Lauter Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

3-27-03
I am so excited, I have found a doctor and have set up a consultation. It is June 10th in Bellevue, which is a two hour drive for me but I don't care at this time, just glad to see that there are doctors out there that do care about the patient and not just the money. I called Monday morning to his office and had the packet to fill out by Tuesday morning, and it worked out great because I had a doctors appt. with my PCP and she agreed to help me fill out the paperwork. I could not believe that she was so willing to help and even set up a appt to have a total physical and blood work done, which is all that I have to do, and then take up my paperwork with me to my appt. I will be adding more to this page when I find out more.

3-17-03
I have called Dr. Schrock's office and found that YES he does take Medicaid. I have left a message to be called back to see what to do next, and should hear from the lady today. I am very excited that I have finally found a doctor after a year of looking. The only thing that makes me nervous is that I live in Montesano, WA which is on the coast and Dr Schrock is in Spokane, WA which is near Idaho. I don't care though due to my husbands brothers live in Spokane and he hasn't gotten to see them in quite some time. I cannot wait to hear from the doctors office.

3-18-03
Well, I got the call back from Dr. Schrocks office today. BAD NEWS AGAIN. No he is not taking new MEDICAID patients. I am really upset now. Well, back to looking for someone who cares about the people and not just the money.

3-11-04
I have not been on lately due to I had not found a doctor until just recently. I did go last year and seen a doctor Simonowitz, but he decided that he was not going to accept my medicaid anymore. That is ok due to I did not care for his or his office peoples attitudes.
I did though find a excellent doctor, Lauter, who I went and seen for my consult yesterday and thought that he was a great person and his office people are very nice and helpful. I would reccommend this doctor to anyone. I have to now wait for my insurance to give the go ahead and then will be going to go through the Lap RNY surgery. I will write again.

I met Dr. Lauter last summer (2003) and liked him right away. He is very personable and comes with great recommendations. I have my pre-op appointment with him next week and he will be doing my surgery on 03-23-04.

Great! Dr. Lauter is very personable, I found him very easy to talk with, and felt at ease almost at once. I had long list of questions for him, and he took his time and answered each of them for me. He seems to be very caring, and was concerned about the distance I will be traveling to have the surgery done (200 miles one way). His office staff was helpful, but I was told they would be contacting my insurance carrier the next day, and it was almost 2 weeks before they asked UHC to approve WLS. He is going to hook me up with a bariatric surgeon in my hometown (Portland, Oregon) for after care... really stressed it, in fact. We talked a lot about the risks associated with WLS, but I really did a lot of research, and have a medical background, so I was already pretty knowlegable on the risks. I have a tentative surgery date of 3/31/04. I will post my experience with Dr Lauter and the Evergreen Center and staff post op.

Today is Feb. 25,2004 I meant with Dr. Lauter for my first consultation. He was great. Very informative and seemed like a caring person. Very easy to talk to. I felt a lot better about having surgery. So I've already started the required things to do. I will probably be a self payer. But I'm worth it. Dr. really stressed after care for at least a year if not longer.

I was very impressed with Dr. Lauter from my first visit with him. He was kind and thoroughly explained the reason why he prefers laparoscopic proximal RNY, the procedure, and potential complications of surgery. He gives out a large booklet full of pre-op and post op information. He requires a pre-op psychological evaluation and a nutritionist visit. Close follow-up with a nutritionist is also required post-op for the first year. One of the main reasons that I chose him was because of the extensive follow up care after surgery (3wks, 3mo, 6mo, 12mo, 18mo then yearly).

The office staff was very experienced and submitted the request for approval to my insurance company right away. I had approval within one week.

The surgery went well and I received excellent care at Evergreen Hospital. The rooms are private, large and are very accomodating to the bariatric patient. Dr. Lauter saw me twice per day while I was there and I couldn't have been more pleased with him.

Dr. Lauter was a very caring person. his office help needs to be more aware of procedures to help the patients

12/7/03-Dr lauter ended up doing my surgery since Dr Lanzafame left. She was his partner. I was a little nervous about him since I did not know him that well. He was at the same seminar as Dr Lanzafame. I liked both of them. My wife and I met with him and we really liked him. I felt better having him doing my surgery. I am know 1 month post op and have seen Dr Lauter in action. He is very caring of his patients and a very good. He called me at home when I was having a problem to see how I was. I would recommend him highly to anyone looking to have the Gastric Bypass.

I first met Dr Lanzafame at a required free seminar. She was one of the presenters. I found her to be very friendly and outgoing. She had a sense of humor. Most surgeons don't.
I made my first appointment with her. There is a $250 up front consult fee. (whatever insurance pays them they will credit to me)
The office was really nice. The staff was freindly and helpful.
My wife and I met with Dr Lanzafame and were impressed. She explained the process, procedure and risks very well. She explained the aftercare that you must go through. This is not something that you have done and then never see or hear from the doctor again. You have to see her after 2 weeks, 1 month , 6 months and then every year from then. She will be monitoring me to make sure everything goes well.

I had originally met with Dr. Lanzafame (his partner), but found out that she was moving to the East Coast. Dr. Lauter was great and I have total confidence that he'll do a wonderful job with the surgery & follow up care. Berlin at the office is absolutely WONDERFUL!! If only all doctors had intelligent and informed front office staff.

The first time I saw Dr. Lauter was in December 2002 for that initial consultation. I had checked his history as well as several others in the Pacific Northwest prior to an initial appointment. I was armed with facts, details and questions about the procedure on my first visit. I am very critical and do a lot of research and Dr. Lauter ranked the top of my list, by the looks of it, I made an excellent choice.
Dr. Lauter's office staff, Berlin and Mai, are excellent and very knowledgable with stepping you through what needs to be done. I did not talk to Dr. Lauter much while I was doing the insurance requirements but was in touch with Berlin often and never thought once that my question was dumb or unwelcome. She even did the phone work to coordinate all my labs from primary care, not an easy task!
By the time surgery approached and I visited the office a couple more times, scheduled labs and jumped through the rings - everyone was very helpful! The ease of the "behind the surgery" stuff increased my confidence of Dr. Lauter and his staff. I had already trusted his opinion and professionalism, every time I saw or talked to him made me that much more secure.
One of the most remarkable things that Dr. Lauter did from the very beginning is include my partner in all appointments and conversations as well as on surgery day making sure that her questions were answered as well before, during, and after. Not many surgeons personally take the time to tend to both the patient and spouse or partner!
Before surgery, Dr. Lauter's "requirements" seemed to be overwhelming, but I wanted it bad enough that I was going to do it no matter how long it took. All seemed reasonable - I just did not want have to wait to accomplish all that first before getting to surgery.
Surgery day was 7/26/03, I was calm, excited, in a great mood and not scared in the least. In pre-op they were surprised at my jovial mood and calmness for such things as IV and pre-op stuff. I told them that I trusted them completely and whatever Dr. Lauter wanted he got.
My surgery went well according to him (like I would know - I was asleep!) and I have yet to have any major problems. It is early but I am confident that Dr. Lauter will address whatever I need for as long as I want him too - that could be a very long time and he understands that!
I give Dr. Lauter an excellent recommendation to anyone looking or his partner Dr. Lanzafame (whom I only got to meet in post op and on rounds but gave the same impressions Dr. Lauter instills!) Thouroughness, caring, competent and a bedside manner that is pleasurable!
I guess my only negative thought would be that there is only one of him!

I thought Dr. Simonowitz was great last Sept. of 2002. I had surgery on Nov. 4th of 2002. I've lost 150 pounds, I was 376 the day of my surgery. Everything went down hill about 3 months ago. I've been too the ER 5 times since Christmas. Thinking that people and Dr. Simonowitz knew I had the surgery, they would look at the stomach as maybe some of my troubles,NO.....I had to find another surgeon, Who just ordered an Upper G-I and Found I have a Large stomach ulcer and a fistula going from my small pouch to the large pouch. I have Know idea what clinic people are going too to be saying his office is freindly, I find them to be RUDE!! How many of you have been weighted at Dr. Simonowitz's office? That was the first thing they did at my new Surgeons Office. I work with 5 other people that had surgery with him and All 5 say the same thing I'm saying. I guess the really sick people are to sick to type on this Web site or our DEAD, We'll never hear about those numbers. Best Of Luck with you 6 Months from your surgery, then tell me what you think of Dr. Simonowitz. Have a back up plan. It's really sad that with this Dr. it's just about numbers and thats a fact. Their is NO patient "Care" with this Dr. It makes me sick that he thought it was great that he did my surgery in 35 minutes. I wish he would have taken alittle more time and done it right. What I've heard a meetings at the Microsoft Campus from other people that have used him. When they call him down the road about problems he tells the person their sick because they "cheated". Well, you can look at my numbers and see I did everything I was suppose to do. How many people on this site do you see losing 150 pounds in 6 months. Oh, I look great. But on the inside I'm sicker then Hell. Not to mention all the ER bills rolling in now... Thanks for the weight Loss.If your looking for a Caring Dr. you may want to give Dr. Lauter's office a call. He's out of Evergreen Hospital. You want to talk about patient "CARE". Something Dr. Simonowitz needs to go back to school to learn, You you keep going back on this site you see Many people taking about "Bed-Side manner". I was where you are now. Looking Back, I'm living in PAIN that I'm in now I wish I was FAT. I'm FULLY aware that problems can arise, It's the ATTITUDE that this Dr. has down the road when your sick and his Staff.... Can you believe that I was given on Hospital orders out of Overlake Hospital to take IB for pain, had they done the Scope or an Upper G-I they would have seen the LARGE stomach Ulcer and the Fistula that has formed. YOU NEVER take IB with a Stomach Ulcer. Once again, please have a back up plan for yourself down the road, YOU WILL GET SICK.



07-27-2003 DR. Lauter is a great Doctor very caring and willing to listen and talk with you and not just rush you out of his office. I highly recommend Dr. Lauter.