Hilario Juarez Bariatric Surgeon M.D.

When I went to his seminar, I thought he was a little egotistical.
I have not met with him in person, only his P.A., he was very nice & very helpful.
The people in the office seem to be a little misinformed on some issues & have given me some incorrect information a few times, but they got my surgery date scheduled right away.
After care is a very big part of his program. I had to switch over to a different insurance company beacause he dropped Cigna since they would not pay for aftercare.
I think that both bedside manner & surgical competence are an important part of the doctor patient relationship.

Marvelous! Answered all my questions. I know of his excellant reputation here in Arizona.

<h4>Dr. Hilario Juarez, M.D., F.A.C.S.<br>525 N. 18th Street, Suite 306 Phoenix, AZ 85006<br>602-252-1510</h4><font size="4"><font color=red>He's a very busy man. Workaholic but still a very good surgeon. Knows his stuff and has been performing this surgery the longest in AZ. He is continuosly expanding his knowledge and skills in regards to obesity.</font><font size="3"><b><p><font color="green">Dr. Juarez is a Diplomat of American College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has been in private practice and have performed general and trauma surgery in Phoenix since 1984.<p>Dr. Juarez recieved a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy at the University of Wyoming. Later finished his medical training at the University of Colorado Medical Center. His Internship and Residency took place at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix Arizona. Dr. Juarez has been in private practice since 1984.</p><p>In 1988 he joined the teaching and trauma surgery staff at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Phoenix. He also became a Diplomate of American College of Surgeons this year. In 1990 Dr. Juarez became a fellow of American College of Surgeons. He has also earned the following memberships; American Heart Association Certification, Maricopa Medical Society, American Medical Society, American College of Surgeons, Phoenix Surgical Society, and the Southwest Surgical Society.</font></p></b>

I met Dr. Juarez Oct 26, 2001 at the seminar he was very calm yet informative. He is defenitly a no nonsense type of personality. The seminar was full to capacity. He answered evey single question everyone had for him he had a challenged with one individual who kept asking the same questions over again. I met his staff and they were wonderful considering how overwhelm they are with patients and questions. On Dec 18, 2001 I met with his assistance who was very nice and well mannered, suprisingly he was very relax considering he had a room full of patients. He made me feel at ease and was very informative about the procedure before and after care and the risks involved. Jan 8, 2002 I sent Jackie/Off Staff a letter from my PCP to submitt to my insurance. Today Feb 20,2002 Jackie called and told me I've been approved "Im so excited". Next I have to contact the scheduler for my surgery date. So far it has been painless. Let's hope it runs this smooth all the way......I called the next day I got A DATE!!! May 28, 2002 I cannot believe how fast everything is happening!!!!!!One Glitch..my insurance is having some contract dispute with St. Luke so I got approved at Good Samaritan which is ok but I will not have the previleage of having the Dietician and the support group through St. Luke....(I knew things couldn't run toooo smooooth!) I really feel it's absolutly neces. to have the nutritionist/dietician as well as the support groups...It's like hypothetic/you get approve for tumor removal but you cannot have chemo!!!! they both go together is medically necessary....I don't get it.....
Help, I really need an ANGEL if there's anyone outthere who is willing .....thanks a bunch....

I am pursuing surgery!! I met with Dr Juarez this past Thur.1/3/02 for the first time. This appointment was pretty short so I really don't have alot to say. I attended his informational seminar back in September and I thought it was thorough and he answered all my questions. He was very positive and encouraging. He does the lap procedure, so I am going for that. There is a support group as part of his before and after care that I am attending twice a month. So far I have no complaints.
There is a support group that meets twice a month for his patients that have Surgery at St Lukes that I have been attending. They are great - vert informative and enjoyable.

My first visit won\'t be until 12/28, but I\'m looking forward to it. His office staff -- esp. Jennifer -- are great. They\'ve let me know when all my paperwork was in, and that they\'ve gotten the Silastic Band operation through 4 different insurance companies. (Unfortunately, not mine.) I really hope I\'ll be accepted by my insurance -- I\'m 45 yrs old, 5\'3\" tall and over 240 lbs. I\'ve lost weight before -- (haven\'t we all?) -- but I can\'t keep it off. I\'ve had 3 back surgeries, including spinal fusion; I have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and MS. I really hope he can do it laparoscopically. I\'ll let you know my impression after that visit. 12/26/01 -- I can\'t wait for the consult! I called my insurance co -- BC/BS FEP -- and the woman I talked to said her supervisor had had the surgery with Dr. Juarez and was really pleased with the results. I sure hope my paperwork goes to her!!! Keeping my fingers crossed.
Saw Emile on Friday -- he says I'd be a really good candidate for the surgery. He says my "numbers" are right, so he doesn't anticipate problems with insurance -- from his lips to God's ear!!! He was great and so was the office staff. I'll also be able to do my pre-ops and follow ups here at Kayenta. The seminar was very informative --except we were all ready to strangle one lady who kept dominating the discussion, and kept asking the questions that had just been answered!! I liked Dr. Juarez -- very down to earth and practical -- and a good sense of humor.
I'll start calling Blue Cross in two weeks to see if they have the paperwork yet, and to encourage them to approve me -- maybe I'll bug them so much they'll approve me just to get rid of me!! Fingers, toes -- everything else possible are crossed until I hear from them. They are very supportive of my decision here at work.

I GOT APPROVED!!!! My surgery is scheduled for 5/2/02, and I can't wait!! I live a long way from Phoenix, so I won't be able to do my aftercare there, but I can do it at the Clinic here. I'll be doing the pre-ops that way, too. They (the staff there) seem to be going out of their way to help with this. I know I'm going to make this work -- I can't wait!

MY FIRST IMPRESSION WAS GREAT, HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS MADE ME FEEL NORMAL, AND DOESNT REMIND THAT IM OVERWEIGHT. WE ALREADY KNOW THIS. HE IS HINEST SWEET AND FUNNY. I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING HIM DO MY SURGERY

My first impression of Dr. Juarez was not very conductive to a good patient/doctor relationship. I thought he was cold and unfeeling of my situation (being obese and at the end of ropes as to what to do about it).

BUT, was I ever mistaken! Dr. Juarez could not have been more interested in me and my desire to lose those unsightely and unwanted pounds. He and his office staff were there every time I needed help in the weeks to come and always with encouragment and assurance that I was capable of doing this thing for myself.

Unfortunely, I am no longer able to see Dr. Juarez because the beginning of October 2001, Dr. Juarez no longer takes patients that have Cigna HMO as their insurance carrier. BUMMER!

I met with the PA in my surgeons office. He was very nice to talk to. I have had a good experience so far with the entire office staff and the support staff at the Weight Management Center. The wait time in the office was not too bad. Dr. Juarez had been called out for an emergency surgery and I think that is why I met with the PA instead of him. I hope it will not take the full 3-4 weeks for approval from the insurance company. I was also disappointed to hear the surgery might not be scheduled as quickly as I had hoped. Must be a lot of people choosing this option. The PA said I might have to wait until March 2002.
UPDATE: My first letter to the insurance agency was not submitted until Jan. 4, 2002 due to delays getting the doctors notes transcribed. I was approved after the first letter. I called the insurance company after several calls to Jackie in Dr. Juarez' office and they advised that the response was sent to the doctor and that I would have to get the approval/denial from my doctor. I called Jackie and she confirmed my surgery has been approved. I would have felt better if she would have called me right away but at least I know I have the approval. The next step was a call to schedule surgery - I was told by Jackie that it may take up to a week for a call from the scheduler and surgeries are already being scheduled into April. Patience is a virtue ...

He seems to be a wonderful surgeon. Very easy to talk to. Although he is always very busy. I am sure it is worth the wait.