Roger Williams Medical Center Bariatrics Hospital

So far so good. Dr Pohl is very good at explaining the procedure and that made me feel better. He is about my age, 50ish and that also was a plus. His background is excellent and he has lot of experience with my procedure (sleeve). My surgery is tomorrow...have followed his diet and advise almost to the tee but it took me much longer to quit smoking. I only just stopped recently and that is with 2 patches full strength and the e-cigs to boot. I hope my liver shrunk in last 2 weeks of pre-op diet which wasn't bad at all. In fact I was on Atkins diet years ago and this was easier than that. I lost about 6 lbs in 2 weeks. I think his staff at hospital and in office were great although there is one lady there who answers the phone that is not very pleasant on phone. Everyone else has been great. It has taken me more than a year to get to this point...lots of tests but that is a good thing. I give Dr Pohl 5 stars..

Edit update" Had the surgery 10/7 and am home now. The surgery went well... the nurses and staff at Roger Williams seemed to really care about my well being, the room was even nice ...big with TV and phone.

Yes.... it was painful but just at first and they kept it well maintained with pain meds. I had more pain in my foot from nerve damage from an accident years ago than I did with surgery pain and that distracted me from the other pain. I think when I was under anesthesia I must have been in a position that made my nerve pain in foot act up. I could not sleep but had no problems walking around and that also helped the pain or pressure feeling in stomach.

I had no problems with the shakes broth or popsicles but I didn't like the water...it was just plain water and for me it was nasty but the pain meds made me thirsty. Before I left hospital Dr Pohl stopped in and checked my stomach and then they sent in Nutritionist, a caseworker and my nurse to make sure I got all the facts down before leaving. I actually learned something new...the nutritionist told me that salty stuff can lead to dumping? I did not know that and actually can't find it anywhere on web but I have cut out the salt in my broth as I also had high blood pressure before this.

Right now the pain is still enough to need some meds but it is getting better fast, I have a sore throat but the wounds sites on stomach don't hurt and are nice and neat looking with some glue stuff on them, they didn't even have to shave me which is great because that would have been itchy.

I am not having any problems with the liquid diet as I am not hungry but it is weird as I want food but really I don't? Hard to explain. I am no longer taking my Diabetes meds and have been testing sugar and it is fine as is my blood pressure and I am not taking those meds anymore either....which is wonderful!

This was not an easy decision to make and Dr Pohl's rules are strict, especially quitting smoking after 35 years! but he certainly made me feel that I made the right choice. Funny... I actually weighed about 4 lbs more when I got home...when nurse called she told me that was from all the IV Fluids. They make sure you are well hydrated. I wish I could have taken my stomach home in a jar but it's illegal I think? I won't miss it....I am hoping to get back to my weight I was 10 years ago...about 190...I am now 300lbs.

Thank you very much Dr Pohl, you have been great. Thanks for calling my Mom right after surgery and making her feel better, Roger Williams is lucky to have you.

I would recommend dr pohl . His bedside manner is great,he is very thorough which is great.. The hospital and staff are very helpful . I've lost 90 pounds in 10 months I'd do it again

Loved my surgeon! That being said, I was not in any way impressed with the care I received once in my room on Center 4. There were 3 nurses that stood out who were wonderful, knowledgeable and caring. The rest I dealt with during my week long stay, well, it felt like they did not want to be there or be bothered by me. The aides were great, and as always are the motor of any nursing wing.
Yes, this facility is older, but well taken care of. As others have stated, it would have been nice if there were more bathrooms available. I had a contrast done while there, and several times it became embarrassing for me as I would have to wait for my roomie to finish in the bathrom, then wait for a nurse to empty the output hat before I could get in there. It was not a pleasant experience and I was very upset by it.
For being a Center of Excellence, I expected more catering to bariatric patients. The chairs in the rooms were not comfy at all to sit in as the had arms and were not created for the overweight.
I would say overall this is a middle of the road facility, where needs are met, a hit or miss staff when it comes to caring, but they got the job done and my actual medical care was very good.

Can I give him 10 stars? Dr. Pohl has mad surgeon skills!!! He did my procedure in an hour and 20 minutes and without any problems whatsoever. I'm not convinced any other surgeon could have done that. My BMI is extremely high which put me at a high risk patient. I didn't even have any pain after surgery. I was home in two days. If you're in this area and are looking into having this surgery... Dr. Pohl is the one you want. He's the best. Ask anyone and they will tell you. He is the absolute best bariatric surgeon in RI.

I am so happy that I made the decision to go with Dr. Pohl as my bariatric surgeon! I live on the eastern coast of CT, and had my choice of several practices in CT and RI. After doing all my research and attending seminars offered by different practices, my husband and myself decided to go with Dr. Pohl. He is very experienced, and shoots straight from the hip, something both my husband and myself appreciate and value, being a military family. He lays out the path that has to be followed to end up in his OR, and his staff, especially Sherry the insurance guru, help you get there. I am at the end of my journey, waiting fom a call tomorrow with my date, and I could not be happier. Everyone I talk to about this process, I give them Dr. Pohl's name.
I love the fact that there is no machine for the office phone. You call, a real person answers, and you talk to them! Yes, sometimes if it is busy, you get to be on hold, but it is worth it for that little extra feeling that you actually matter!

Dr Pohl was the first surgeon to agree to take me on as a patient after a few in Boston and another in Providence flat out refused to treat me due to liver issues & low platelets...after the seminar in January 2010, I spoke with him briefly explaining my situation, I made an appointment to see him and his response was "CIGNA is NOT covering the VSG right now, it's true you would not qualify for the bypass, but you may qualify for the band and I would recommend that, but let's put you through the process & see what CIGNA says...perhaps they'll be approving the VSG by the time you get through the 6-moth waiting/testing period..." I had my mind set on VSG...9/26/10 the approval letter was issued, I received it 10/15/10...

Through all my testing and talking with others, as soon as I'd say Dr Pohl...hospital technicians, customers at my work, friends and others all said..."You have the right Doctor...he's amazing"...I gotta say I agree! Both he & Dr Giovanni marry their patients...you're a patient for life...they care and they'll let you know when you're screwing up (not that I have, I just know from others...LOL). I had him take care of a hernia Friday 7/1/11...I was at work Sunday 7/3...luckily I had Monday the 4th of July off! He's also consistently on the Top Doctors list published by RI Monthly.

I'm now the VSG Spokesperson at their Monthly Seminar (2nd Wednesday of the month) at Roger Williams Hospital. Funny thing...after I was refused at Miriam Hospital, I went onto CIGNA's website & Dr Pohl & Roger Williams Medical Center were the preferred providers...and at the time the ONLY Practice & Hospital designated as a Center of Excellence...they got that right!

well where to start. I slept through the actual surgery :-). Dr Pohl checked on my progress every day in the hospital. He updated my family promptly on my status post op. My surgery was fast and I have had no pain at all. He has a very thorough pre op testing which seems over kill but is making my surgical experience very easy. Dr Pohl is a very competent professional who I would reccomend for this surgery

Hospital needs a facelift. Should also room bariatric patients together and provide an "angel" for hospital and post op visits. One TV per room and one tiny bathroom seemed inadequate. Staff could not tell me whether or not the shakes, jello and sorbets had any sucralose or sorbitol in them. Therefore, I did not consume them. Again, the hospital is very understaffed.

Dr Pohl is an impressive surgeon and very nice. He has a great reputation, but I think he was impatient with me since my liver did not shrink to his liking. He mentioned that it was "very large". This bothered me as I had the stomach flu the week before surgery, and couldn't choke down the shakes. I survived on cream of wheat and soft boiled eggs. Apparently, that was not enough! Dr Pohl is a dedicated professional and many patients consider him one of the best!

He is very professional and positive. I could tell he had done many of these type surgeries just by his confersation. He comes highly recommended