JFK Medical Center Hospital

I liked doctor Abkin a lot from the first time I met him at the seminar. He has a nice bedside manner and is very knowledgeable. I felt very much at ease with him. I thought his office staff was very helpful for the most part. Although when I was denied, I felt a little abandoned. I thought they were going to help me appeal the decision. Everything worked out in the end and very quickly too. I thought the pre-surgical appointment was extremely helpful. I was much more at ease about everything after I attended that meeting. It was long but worth it. I would rate Dr. Abkin and his staff as excellent. I believe that surgical competence and bedside manner are both very important, but if I had to pick one, I sure want my doctor to know what he is doing when he cuts you open! Wouldn't you? The only other negative comment is that I would have liked to see Dr. Abkin or Goldstein the afternoon or evening after my surgery. Dr. Abkin and Dr. Goldstein are both excellent surgeons with good bedside manners.

He was great from the beginning. Very nice and funny. He explained everything to me and I asked a lot of questions and he was really nice about it and answered them all. I didn't feel like he was rushing to get out. He spent a lot of time with me and he had a lot of other patients to see. That made me feel good. That he seemed to care. Especially since I am a new patient. The office was also great, they bent over backwards to get me what I needed. They even helped me with my insurance process. I give them a 10 out of 10.....

I liked Dr. Abkin and found him to have a good sence of humor. I only spoke with him at my very first visit and only saw him briefly in the hospital. Since then I have been seen by Dr. Goldstein. I like Dr. Goldstein very much and would recomend him. He has a wonderful bed side manner and is professional and easy to talk to.

I like Dr. Abkin but I have to say I didn't build a rapport with him only seeing him briefly at the first consult. I think it would have been nice to actually talk to him in lenght once. As far as i can tell he was a good surgeon and knew his stuff. As for any thing else, I would have to say I think he should find time to talk to the patients he has operated on.

Aftercare, needs more emphasis, or maybe more time discussing what really to expect.

All in all I was lucky and had very little complications. I did get an infection from the JP drain that i had to keep in when I went home. Dr.Goldstein, helped me through that after a meeting in the ER. Otherwise everything went great for me. Very little discomfort.

I feel that the office staff is friendly and helpful.

I was advised of the risks of surgery during the first seminar at Morristown hospital. I didn't do nearly enough research prior to surgery as msome have. I would learn as much as possible if i were to do it again. I would still do it!! without a doubt.

Overall i would give this group of doctors a thumbs up on experience and friendliness. I feel the docotrs competence is A+ and bedside manner A+

I first met Dr. Abkin and the other doctors from his office at a public information session. I was impressed with all of them, but Dr. Abkin was particularly knowledgeable and articulate. When a colleague recommended him to me, I was sold and booked an appointment.
The office was very busy, but I didn't have to wait long. Dr. Goldstein actually did the majority of the intake evaluation, with Dr. Abkin stopping by to introduce himself and answer any questions that I might have. I am very comfortable with both doctors at this point.

Drs. Abkin and Bertha are an excellent team working out of Morristown Memorial which is an excellent hospital. I work at Morristown Memorial and was able to find out the inside scoop on all the docs who perform the gastric bypass surgery there. The nurses are the ones who know which docs are the best, and Dr. Abkin was recommended by many of them. I know some other hospital employees who have had the other surgeons, e.g. McClean, Edoga, Ward, and they also have had excellent results and good rapport with their docs. My personal physician told me to pick Abkin or Bertha because of their greater experience and volume with this type of surgery. I also liked Dr. Abkin's directness, sense of humor, and impish smile. The program is well organized with pre-op teaching and follow-up.
6 MONTHS UPDATE: Had my 6 months check up with Dr. Abkin. He was pleased with my weight loss (96 pounds) and my labs were all normal but the B-12 was a bit low. He put me on supplement for that. I had some earlier issues with the disorganized office staff but today there were no problems. My appointment was at 10:15 and I was out the door by 10:35. 1 YEAR UPDATE: I had my one year post-op appointment today (1/13/05) and Dr. Abkin was pleased with my weight loss and said my labs were all good. I'm released back to my regular doctor with blood work every six months. My appointment was at 10:15 and I was done by 10:30.

Dr. Abkin is very professional. He performed WLS on my husband on Aug 2nd 2004. I have every confidence in him.

His office staff seemed to have been more helpful, or replied more quickly to my questions, back in July and August '04 When my husband had his successful surgery. I think the practice has grown rapidly and they have alot of new staff who don't seem to be as efficent as before.

I first met Dr Abkin 3 years ago which is when I first considered surgery. He is very professional and knowledgable. I also met Dr. Bertha who is in the same practice and felt the same way. In the past 3 years my sister had Lap Band with Dr Abkin and my 2 cousins and best friend had RNY with Dr Bertha. They all loved them !
I chose Dr Abkin because my sister just adored him and when I went for my consult he was wonderful! Their pre-op planning is the best- the nutritionist they work with is fantastic and I have a 3 hour pre-op meeting as well. They want you to know every detail up front which I think is so important. He addressed all questions I have had so far and I anticipate that many more questions will be answered at my pre-op meeting.
I do know that I have 2 more nutritional consultations included post op and there is monthly support groups.
The only bad thing I can say is that it seems there office is understaffed. When I call, I wait on hold a lot and forlong periods of time. When you do get someone on the phone, they do take the time to help, but I think they need a few more people to anser phones and help with questions.
Advanced laproscopic Surgeons is the practice name and I would highly recommend!!

Dr. Abkin was very professional in a quiet sort of way. I only saw him for my initial consultation and once in the hospital.

The office staff was superb. I was appreciative of the help I had in gaining insurance approval. It only took one day but I was on the phone with the doctor's office and the insurance company for hours.

Dr. Abkin was wonderful. He presented both the benefits and risks associated with the surgery. I had to attend a new patient seminar before I could schedule my consultation. I scheduled my consultation with Dr. Abkin, the dietician, and nutritionist the night of the seminar. The appointments were all about two weeks after the seminar. At my appointment I was immediately scheduled for surgery. I was anticipating a much longer wait but they could have done it with in two weeks. I had a vacation planned (and already paid for) so we scheduled it for about one month later.

His office staff was wonderful and the lady that took care of the insurance was great. My paperwork was submitted one week after my consultation and I was approved the following day.

Many people have complained that the office is very busy but I've never had to wait there. I try to schedule my appointments early in the day and that helps.

My follow-up appointments have been with Dr. Killkeny. (I think that's how you spell her name.) She has been absolutely wonderful and answers all of my questions in detail. She also has very realistic expectations from us and is down to earth.

I've also met with Dr. Goldstein at the office when I had a brief hospitalization due to dehydration. He was very to the point. He told me either get the fluids in or go back to the hospital. I needed that.

The office stresses that making smart choices. Different doctors have different aftercare programs. They told me my vitamins should be my first priority, protein second, fluids third. I've makre sure I stick to that.

They have monthly support group meetings but I've not been able to attend. I've heard they are well attended though.

Overall, I would highly recommend Dr. Abkin and his associates to anyone in the New Jersey area that is considering WLS.

The first time I saw Dr. Abkin was at the mandatory New Patient Orientation. As I listened to him and his three associates take turns answering questions from the audience, my initial impression of Dr. Abkin was one of great knowledge and confidence. I didn't speak to Dr. Abkin until my consultation on 8/19/04. Not only was he confident, but he also has a way of making you feel very comfortable. I knew in the first few minutes of the consultation that he was the surgeon for me. He doesn't shy away from answering any question, he's direct and to the point.

From reading all the reviews about Dr. Abkin and his office, I expected to be in a crowded office waiting for hours to see him. I must have picked the right day and time to go. My appointments went like clockwork, no problems at all. The office didn't seem understaffed at all, however I imagine on busy days it must be very hectic.

Dr. Abkin and his group stress the importance of post-op care. They call it "a program for life"... The psychologist and nutritionsit were also very big on following up post-op.

Overall, I KNOW I made the right choice. Dr. Abkin is not only a skilled surgeon with the numbers to back him up, but he's also very likable and approachable. I feel confident putting my life in his hands.