Independence Health System Hospital

I met with Dr Gagne on Friday Sept 26. He was very nice. He explained the surgery in great detail. The good along with the bad. He answered all my questions. We set a teanative surgery date of January 5 2004.
His office staff was great. It was the first time I felt comfortable going to the doctor. Every one was very caring and helpful. They all emphasized the importance of after care. THE taking of vitiamins for the rest of my life. I would rate the team as an 8.I believe surgiacal competence and bedside manner are both important.I will have more imput as my journey continues.

3/19/04

Well my surgery is done and I have nothing but good things to say about Dr Gagne' and his team.They were there to answer any questions and to totally support the decision I have made. Thing went very well. Any doubts I had about having the surgery have completely vanished. He had a great sense of humor both before and after surgery.

Dr.Maalouf has a very good bedside manner.He is so comfortable to talk with. My husband had a few questions as did I, and he explained everything so well.My husband feels so much better now after have met him and spoke with him.He is excited as I am now. We were with him quite a while and I never felt as though he was rushing us to get out of there. He spent a very long time explaining the risks, the procedure, the aftercare....everyhting. I am just so grateful to him. I feel he is giving me my life back.
I think the main thing is that I am really comfortable around him. I am glad he is my surgeon.

My first impression of Dr Daniel Gagne was that he was very friendly, yet professional. He was honest about the surgery, and did not mince any words. He let me know the risks and complications that could happen. He also let me know history with doing this surgery, including patients that have passed away due to complications (which were 2 out of 300 surgeries, and those 2 where very high risk before surgery). I felt very comfortable with this doctor.

My impression of Dr Gagne and his physician assistant Julie have only improved with each appointment. They both have answered any questions that I have had. I feel very comfortable knowing that this group will be handling my surgery.

There is nothing I have liked least about this group.

I can not say enough great things about Dr Gagne and his staff. I have been to alot of doctors (due to my many illnesses) and there are not too many doctors/staff that I have felt as comfortable with as with this group.

My husband had his gastric bypass done by Dr Gagne on 9/9/03. My mother in law was there waiting with me while my husband was being operated on, and was very impressed with Dr Gagne. She made the comment "I am impressed with the number of times I have seen the doctor today! Normally you never see the surgeon." Let me explain...Dr Gagne came out before the surgery to speak with my husband and me, then about 30 minutes into the surgery, someone from his staff called the waiting room to let me know that they just started and everything was going fine, then Dr Gagne came out after the surgery to let me know that my husband was done and in recovery and that everything went great (total time for surgery 2 1/2 hours). So me and my mother in law went up to the floor that he would go to after the recovery room. When they brought him up to his room, the nurses were still getting him situated and guess who was there? That's right, Dr Gagne. He was making sure my husband was OK. Then he showed up later that night. And twice the next day, and again the morning my husband was discharged. Dr Gagne physician assistant Julie, was also there as much as the doctor was, but she stayed much longer in the room talking to us to make sure my husband was ok and to make sure he didn't need anything.

Like I said before, I am so impressed with this doctor and his staff. Me and my husband are so fortunate to have found them.
I would highly recommend this surgeon and his staff to anyone ready to take that next step of finding a gastric bypass surgeon.

DR.PAPASAVAS,hes the new associate of Dr.Gagne and relatively new.(in my opinion) I've only met him so far at the support group for patients going to have the surgery.I was impressed though a little wary because hes so "new" hes only been operating so far on his own since January.Although he seems knowledgable and has been with the hospital for over 4years and has handled many surgeries with Dr.Gagne.I still have the utmost respect for him and hes very easy to talk with,he answers ALL questions without making you feel like your bothering him.The whole staff ive met to date have been very helpful.they require you to try to lose weight prior to surgery to show your commitement to this lifestyle change which i was impressed with.thier aftercare is emphasized VERY,VERY much as are the risks of surgery.They tell you before you even ask all the risks and benefits,also thier own personal stats and if any deaths they go over what happened.they offer a "surgery buddy" program,where they couple you with someone thats had the surgery.I went in there terrified and unsure.im still a little unsure,but im more excited and reassured now more than anythingI think so far im going to give them a 7 on a scale of 1-10.we have to many more areas to go through and i want to be able to have room to go up :)

3/21 met with Dr Gagne and his PC Julie, I was in fast and I had all of my questions answered. They return calls and emails quickly. Can't wait for my surgery date 5/1!!

I just wish I had an appointment set up. Waiting for the phone to ring in worse than substitute teaching.

Dr. Maalouf was great at explaining about the surgery and all pre-op tests. It was great to be well informed about every thing that is required. His office has been great at answering all my questions. I feel very comfortable with Dr Maalouf preforming my surgery. I have not had surgery yet(April 9, 2003), but have already refered a freind to his office since I was impressed with his care.

The first thing I noticed about Dr. Maalouf was his calm comfortable way he carries himself and related to me. He was serious about his requirements yet would give a smile of encouragement now and again. The only change in my impression of the doctor over this time is that I have gained more respect for him and realize he is an expert in his field. The staff is great and knows everything and takes care of everything for me. What angels. You might be interested to know that he is starting to do laps at the end of this month is what I would let others know new about Dr. Maalouf. He really emphasized the aftercare with the diet, nutrition, and exercise, but also with keeping up with the medical aspects such as colonoscopy and mammograms. I can't answer about the aftercare program yet, be he has told me what to expect as far as follow-ups and now they are forming a support group in the area. He went over the risks of the surgery at the first visit and then again when we set the date. Well, so far I would rate him very high and I am sure that after I will keep that standard as he holds himself to his professional standard. This doctor is not at all condescending, he gives you the facts that you can clearly understand and invites questions.

he is very caring and sensitive with his bedside manner.

I have been very lucky and will have a 6 mos plus days check up at the end of January. I have had no complications and so haven't had to call his office very often. Most calls ther are because of insurance screw ups between West Penn and his office. And they are still on going. Dr. Gagne is very friendly and considerate and took time to answer lots of questions when I needed that. He has an excellent Physician's Assistant who has given me the most common sense help. Thanks so much to Julie Maurer!
Because of the distance that I live from Pittsburgh, I have not been able to be involved in the support group, and I really wish that I could participate with one in person.