Palo Alto Medical Foundation Hospital

4/2/03 Wednesday - Met with Dr. Wetter today. I was shocked how good the visit went. I got there early and they even called me back early. My appointment was for 11:00 am and I was out by 12:00. Everybody always talks about having to wait an hour to see the Doctor. Dr. Wetter wants me to see a nutritionist, get the psych evaluation, blood work, exercise and work on losing some weight. I told him No problem. He said as soon as he gets those results he will put in for insurance approval. I spoke to Yvette after my appointment. She is great. She gave me advice on what to do and told me that my insurance shouldn’t be a problem. She also told me that she is scheduling for June already, so I need to hurry up. I wanted a June date, but looks like I will get a July date. My next appointment is May 5th.

I have only met with Dr. Legha once for my original consultation. He is easy to talk to and a great listener. He is easy to smile and quick to laugh. He has a big heart that he wears close to the surface. I liked him at first glance.

Dr. Legha took a lot of time with both my husband and myself. He explained why I should have the open surgery as oppsed to the lap. He expalined that I need to lose 30 plus pounds, and that he will do everything in his power to see to it that my surgery is a success.

Dr. Legha expained the risks involved with this surgery, and I told him that as long as God wants me here I'll be here, and when
God calls me home I'll go home. Nothing anyone can do here on earth will effect that. Dr, Legha said he believes that too. I knew he was a great guy!

I have seen Dr. Legha twice making rounds in the hospital or working with his staff. Dr. Legha seems to be a very warm and kind person. I would say he is nurturer to everyone around him.

Dr. Legha really knows his stuff, and presents himself well. I am looking forwared to seeing his caring bedside manner. The rumor mill says he is the best surgeon around, so I feel at ease that I am in good hands.

I don't know this for sure, but I suspect Dr. Legha has a dog at home that loves him very much : )

I have my first consult with her on Feb. 19th. I will let you all know how it goes.
I had my consult today the 19th...Dr. Foster is tops, she is very intentive and up front with all the information that you could ever need or want. The office staff are all sweethearts. If you have questions just call or e-mail Jocie or Yvette.
I still think that Dr. Foster is a great and sweet doctor...I just hope that she says that she will do my surgery. Will have to wait and see what happens.

Dr. Pamela Foster is an excellent, gifted surgeon. She is young, professional, and full of spunk. She is not afraid to speak her mind, and she demands total cooperation and compliance in order to ensure the best for her patients. My mom met her for the first time the day of surgery, and she told me that she instantly knew that she had lots of integrity and would take wonderful care of me. I had some minor complications, which concerned the doctor during surgery, and she shared her concerns with my mother and my friend, BM. My mom told me that she admired the fact that Dr. Foster was woman enough to admit that she had some concerns about the surgery, but brave enough to perform the surgery with confidence. The next day when I went for my leak test, Dr. Foster was there, and had informed the x-ray team to not start the case until she was present. She reviewed the test results with me, and told me that everything was "picture perfect". She came to visit me every day, while I was in the hospital, and she alleviated any concerns I had about my recovery and future progress. My recovery has been remarkable, and I have no doubt that God laid his hands on Dr. Foster's, and with God, all things are possible.

I did not see Dr. Wetter until the week before surgery. The first time I went to his office I saw his assoc. Dr. Baggs. By the time I was approve Dr. Baggs had left his office to move to Idaho. On the whole I felt he was very good at what he does. His office staff though I think needs to be improve. I had a very hard time getting his insurance person on the phone and for her to get the info the insurance co needed. Dr. Baggs was very good at our first meeting and when my insurance turn me down he was very helpful in getting the info to the insurance co that they needed for the appeal. The risk of surgery was fully address. Overall I beleive that Dr. Wetter was very surgical competent.

I was very nervous at my first meeting with Dr. Wetter. He put me at ease immediately. He was easy to talk to and never rushed me. I have had two meetings with him and I feel confident in his ability and appreciate his kindness. The office staff is very helpful. The nurse assigned to me is eager to answere me questions, very friendly and supportive. Dr. Wetter made a big impression on my at my first appt......he told me point blank that this surgery is not my cure but an assistance to me in loosing the weight. He was so inspirational to me at our first meeting that during the 30 days before my next appointment I lost 15 lbs on my own! (Dr Atkins diet) He was very forthcoming regarding the risks. (scared me a little, but I needed to know) I must say though at my second appt he didn't seem to have taken the time to have completely reviewed my file....he asked me at one point if my surgery was scheduled...I think with a couple minutes of reviewing my file he could have had that info prior to meeting with me but overall I would rate Dr Wetter thus far very highly. I have not had my surgery yet but I am confident and I like him.

3/3/03 I am meeting with Dr. Foster tomorrow for the first time. I already know that Michelle in her office is a sweetheart who doesn't seem to mind answering any and every question about pre-op stuff. Plus Michelle is super about returning phone calls in a timely manner.
3/5/06 I met with Dr. Foster yesterday. She is extremely smart with a warm and engaging manner. She spent about an hour and a half with me, and encouraged questions. She did not rush me out of there. Dr. Foster is a stickler about losing at least 10% of your total body weight prior to surgery. She wants to make sure you are making the behavorial modifications necessary to surgery after care.

As soon as you meet Dr Foster you know that your life is in great hands. Her calm, confident manner is very reassuring. She answers all questions very clearly and I have never felt that she was trying to "hurry" me out.
The office staff seems to be in a bit of a flux. I have had problems with my medical group and have called the office many times. They have been very patient with my many questions. There is a very structured aftercare program. They don't just cut and forget you.

I had my first appt. w/Dr. Wetter the first week of Dec., 2002. My husband and 4 year old accompanied me to the appt. He was incredible. Well versed on all aspects of the surgery with an extensive resume showing a great deal of expertise in the field of bariatric surgery. He explained in great detail the surgery options, which would work best for me and then asked me a number of questions. He was calm, kind and patient. I'd expected a rushed visit since the delay from my appt. time to seeing him was about an hour, but I was wrong. I don't mind waiting if I receive good service. And he definitely lived up to my expectations. His staff is courteous and kind as well. I think Yvette is incredible and so pleasant. We didn't discuss much beyond the ramifications of the surgery. I had my psych and nutritional consults and attended support groups. I had a follow up appt. in February 2003 and my RNY surgery was approved by Blue Shield HMO Access + within a week of the request and will be covered at 100%. I'm looking forward to hearing more re: aftercare at our next meeting, a couple of weeks before my April 10, 2003 surgery date. The survey asks which is better? Surgical competence, bedside manner or both? Well, I have LOTS of friends and none of them are competent surgeons. I'll take the competent surgeon over good bedside manner any day. But, with Dr. Wetter, it seems you do get both. :)

I FOUND DR. WETTER TO BE VERY HELPFUL IN EXPLAINING THE PROCEDURE AND MOST OF ALL PATIENT. MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF DR. WETTER WAS GOOD AND THAT HAS NOT CHANGED. HIS STAFF IS HELPFUL, BUT THERE ARE TIME THEY ARE HARD TO GET HOLD OF.

THERE WAS NOTHING I FOUND THAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT DR. WETTER AND AS FAR AS FUTURE PATIENTS SHOULD KNOW, THEY CAN TRUST AND BELIEVE IN HIM. ONE THING FOR SURE IS HE IS VERY HONEST WITH YOU AND WILL NOT MISLEAD YOU.

SINCE DR. WETTER WANTS EACH OF HIS PATIENTS TO SUCCEED WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL WEIGHT LOSS, HE PUTS A LOT OF IMPORTANCE ON AFTERCARE PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE.

DR. WETTER ADDRESSED ALL MY CONCERNS AND OVERALL IS AN EXCELLENT DOCTOR.