Our Lady Of the Lake Regional Medical Center Hospital

Dr. Schauer made me feel very comfortable the moment I met him. He appears to be a kind, compassionate, man who is highly regarded for his surgical skills. We met in a small group and he explained our options and the procedures. He encouraged us to ask questions and stated, "there is no stupid question". His staff has had the procedure so they can relate to what your are going through. Both of his nurses spoke to us about their procedure and recovery. Again they answered all of our questions. Life long after care was stressed by both the nurses and Dr. Schauer. We were told that we would be patients for life and our after care would be carfully monitored. At the present time I am waiting for insurance approval. The only negative thing I can say about Dr. Schauer is the wait, or time involved. I sent my applicaton in March and had my first appointment Sep 21st. But the wait has given me time to think about the major changes I am going to make. And I am ready.

I made my surgeon selection based on experience and a peer recommendation. I found his presentation informative and it convinced me that this procedure was the right decision.

Called in Feb for the application to have surgery and Dr. Fernstorms office sent it right out to me. I sent it back the next day via over night mail. After several attempts of calling Fernstorms office I was finally told they sent my paperwork to Dr.Schauers office along with 300 other peoples. I was so dissappointed thinking I will never get a appointment. Well finlaly Beth Clemm called me six weeks later to scheduld an apt in June so I took it.

June 23rd After waiting four months for an apt. My husband and I had a 8am apt.
first consult with Dr.Philip Schauer in Pgh. He first had us watch a video/slid of the operation and usefull information pertaining to the Surgery. I have done so much research that I already knew all of the info but it was good for all the newbies that did not know, it was also good for Micah (my hubbie) He said it made him feel more comfortable knowing and understanding it is NOT cosmetic surgery. That made me happy! Hubbie is very supportive to me in every way...Anyway after the slide me and about 15 other patients were weighed and bp and then sent into private rooms to have our private consult with Schauer. While I was there I met Beth, Thresa, and Beth Clemm. Beth Clemm is very knowledgeable and nice. Thresa was easy to talk to also, told me she had the surgery and is 2 years post op. Thresa looked good. Dr. Schauer said that he wanted me to have the LAP RNY Proximal but I want the distal, so at my next apt. I will discuss this more with him. For the first visit Dr. Scauer seem to be very friendly and very manerable, also had a good sense of humor and KNOWS his stuff when it comes to this surgery. So far I would rate him a A. I am just hoping they do not lose my paperwork like some of the other horror stories I have heard of before surgery. So far so good. Schauer said I should have my surgery sometime in Sept. I will have my sleep apnea test on the 2nd of July and then on the 13th my EKG and sonogram then I will be finish with my testing YIPPIE!!!! Will update more later!

9/11/01 just 5 more days till surgery and i am so excited...well that is an understatement! Dr. Schauer said at my pre op apt that he expects me to do well and really made me feel comfortable with his ability and skills. My hubbie really likes him and understands the surgery that I have elected to have. Dr. Schauer told me I worry to much and guess what? He's right I do and he told me to chill out and let him do the worring. Beth klemm was really great at the preop apt she sat down and told me her story of weight loss surgery and all the sturgles she had. This was not to scare me but to inform me that this surgery is SERIOUS, which i already know. If you go to Dr. Schauers office I hope you meet Beth and Thresa they are they best as for the rest of the nursing staff well let''s just say they leave a lot to be desired as far as people skills... Will post more the day before surgery!!!!

09-07-01 I finally got to meet Dr. Schauer, and all that I have read about him is true. He is one of the nicest people that I have meet. He is concerned for you and for what your outcome will be. He is so positive that all you can do it; he said that he will give me the way to lose the weight but it is also up to me. Oh don’t I know that. One main thing that he said that really made me like him even more was he remark when I told him how I found out about him and the surgery. That was through an article in our local newspaper, and he told me that God does work in mysterious ways to lead you where He wants you to go. How very much I believe this.


07-30-01 I have not meet with Dr. Schauer yet, I will meet with him on Sept. 7. My first pre-op consult was with Dr. Ikramuddin.

My first appointment with Dr. Ikramuddin will be March 28. Will tell you more after then.

03-29-01 Well what do I tell you all of Dr. Ikramuddin; He is a super nice man. I felt comfortable with him as soon as he entered the room and smiled and say hello. My husband was with me and he is also very impressed with Dr.Ikramuddin. During our talk, he first explained how the surgery would be preformed and what to expect during and after surgery. He also went over all of the risks that were involved with this surgery.

He also went over the medical history that I previously sent in, and explained that I would require certain tests for the different medical problems that I have. He also did a brief exam and told us that I should be able to have the lap RNY without any problems. Now that was a relief to hear.

To me he seems to be very concerned with you as a person, not just as a future patient. He took time to sit and answer all of the ‘not so bright’ questions that I had, even if he already went over them. I told him that all I wanted to eat was chocolate and at times potato chips and he informed me that those were two things that I would not be eating after the surgery. (Oh Darn) But I understand I and really do not want to experience the ever-dreaded ‘dumping syndrome’. And the Chips, well I can do without them. I know I can and I will.

Dr. Ikramuddin's office staff was also very nice and helpful. Beth, one of the nurses, also spoke to us and went back over a lot of what the doctor told. I was given more info on what to expect post-op and was given plenty of time to ask questions of Beth. Beth shared with us her WLS story and I must tell you that I was so happy to meet face to face a person that has had WLS. It made me feel that YES I can do this....

Dr. Schauer and his entire office staff was terrific. They made you feel welcome and like a human being, not a number. This office ran on time and the staff spent as much time with you as necessary. One of the most important factors that influenced my decision to choose this practice was their focus on education, information and aftercare/support. This program only works if you work it.

i have not met him yet i filled out a form for his assistant and she wrote me to tell me i have been accepted but she will get back to me for date of my first appointment with Dr Philip Schauer it wont be till after jan 02. he is booked up to then. I've lived in pgh all my life and i know the hospital i've had sinus surgery there before. i am willing to wait for him. my main concerns are "how much pain theren really is?" and how did people die from this? also does the skin get back itself? I guess I really need to talk to post op friends and get the whole scoop! deanna...

Met with Dr. Schauer very briefly, but felt comfortable and secure that he was the surgeon for me. He came highly recommended by my physicians in Philadelphia.

Met Dr. Schauer's nurses who have had the surgery themselves and they were very knowledgable,understanding and reassuring.

Both Dr. Schauer and his nurses were very adamant about follow up care. They have monthly group sessions for their patients pre-op and post-op. Dr. Schauer stated I would be stuck with him for life.

As for the office staff and the process leading up to my surgical date, I was very dissatisfied, but was set on Dr. Schauer so I had to persevere.

I have met both Dr Schauer and Dr Ikramuddin they are both very nice and i felt comfortable with them both i would not hesitate to have them do any surgeries i would ned i found them to be very talented and they know there stuff :)

The office staff is very nice i feel they are over worked and paper work does get lost i think they need more help if they had that I think it would run much smoother

i found them surgically competent and bedside manner to be very good

That he was the absolute best at the laproscopic version of the RNY.

His office staff makes him look ridiculous, they are very unorganized, lose things alot, and aren't very happy when you point out their mistakes to them.

It is very hard to contact the office let alone him. I saw him in March and I had my surgery in July. In all that time, I never laid eyes on him again. I still haven't seen him since March, not even right before surgery. The only way I know that he actually performed the surgery is because he spoke to my family.

Future patients should be prepared to be patient. Appointments will be cancelled and rescheduled, you will sit sometimes for 4-5 hours for something that should take 20 minutes. It is extremely hard to get good information from the staff.

His aftercare program seems intense so far. He has a support group set up for patients.

He addressed all risks of surgery, but in a group setting. He rarely sees patients one on one - he is extremely busy.

I still truly believe he is the best at this, but you have to have huge patience limits to put up with all you go through to have him do your surgery. Just to get a preliminary appointment is a 4-6 month wait.

His surgical competence is great, bedside manner - I wouldn't know, didn't see him before or after surgery.

I first "met" Dr. Schauer at a support group meeting back in April 2001. I next saw him in May 2001 when I (FINALLY) got my first appointment with him which was on May 11. I was very impressed both times with him. I felt his office staff (although friendly and appearing efficient), seemed a tad "too" focused on making sure they passed the message on to us that by calling them "needlessly", we would be bothering them. They stressed several times that we should NOT call them for at least 4 to 8 weeks after our visit as they had "too much to do" to be bothered with needless calls. Although I can understand this on one level, I hope they take care to remember that the reason we are all there is because we have an ILLNESS, with very real health concerns and needs which strengthens our desire to have their help to help us by doing this surgery.

I am hoping that after the surgery I will not be afraid to call them for fear that I am "bothering" them even if it turns out that the concern I have is a "silly" question.

I think part of the reason people feel they must call to check on progress frequently, is that from all we've read (and observed ourselves), the timeframe in which we are told things will happen is incorrect. This in turn causes us apprehension and makes us feel the need to call and make sure things are "moving" along as expediously as possible. An example of this is when I had my first appointment there on May 11 which was a Friday, I was told the paperwork would go to the insurance company for approval the following Tuesday, which was May 15. I called my insurance company on June 8 to see the status, and was told it was never sent in. I called Dr. Schauer's office and was "chided" that it had ONLY been 3 weeks so it was too soon to call as the paperwork had just the day before been sent out. This in my opinion is what causes needless frustration and "fear" of being "forgotten". But on the other hand, it is my belief that all things aside, Dr. Phillip Schauer is the best in his field and I am thankful that I live in an area where I can access his skill without having to travel too far. This confidence in my surgeon far outweighs any other inconveniences and/or concerns that I may have.