Ascension St. Vincent - Carmel Bariatrics Hospital

the bariatric nurses and techs are GREAT! they were very caring and nice, even when I had to have help in the restroom.

I was totally treated with the utmost care. All those involved in caring for me treated me with great respect. There were rooms to take visitors to, also. That was very nice. I was very pleasantly surprised at how well I was treated.

The hospital and staff was very accomodating to my family. My husband was able to come early in the morning and stay as late as he wished in the evenings. He would have been allowed to stay in my room if we would have wanted.

Also, each patient is given a private room with shower! You can't beat this. I felt as if I were in a resort.

My initial consult with Dr. Inman isn't until September; however, the scheduler at St. Vincent Hospital was very nice & helpful. She was able to answer the questions I had. I've heard good things about Dr. Inman, so I can't wait to meet her to be able to form my own opinion.

I was very pleased with my stay and with most of the staff. Particularly nice is the fact that all the rooms on the bariatric unit are private. Also, the staff treated my domestic partner very well and that was a big thing for me as I needed her there.

My first impression of Dr. Inman was she was very competant.
My impression did not change until I began to experience problems with continued weight loss.
I found her staff to be decent and to follow her orders.
I did not care for being blamed for my lack of weight loss. The immediate conclusion she drew was I had not followed the program or I had stretched my pouch. Neither of these were true.
I feel future patients need to make sure you ask plenty of questions whether she wants to answer them or not. She has a habit of walking in the room and leaving in about five minutes. Sometimes that is enough time and sometimes it isn't.
I feel she emphasizes aftercare from the dieticians and support groups. She herself does not appear to be knowledgeable about the dietary aspects of the post op. This makes the discussions when any problems arise rather difficult.
She has a structured aftercare program with the dieticians and support groups. However, I was told pre-op I would see her twice within eight weeks. I saw her physicians assistant once in eight weeks. I also had suffered a serious infection, but was told what to do and take antibiotics. I was not given a sooner appointment for check-up.
The risks of surgery were explained in the literature I was given by the bariatric center.
I honestly do not know how to rate Dr. Inman at this point in time. I have found another surgeon to take over my care. I feel my care is being handled much better by the new surgeon. I may have to have a re-do.
I feel surgical competence and bedside manner are important. You can have all the skill in the world as a surgeon, but be terrible personally with your patients. Bariatric patients have spent sometimes their whole life being accused of the reason they are over weight. To have your bariatric surgeon do this BEFORE investigating any of the reasons for the lack of a weight loss is out of line. The surgeon has to be willing to take the time to listen to the patient, answer their questions honestly and completely, and not put them on hold for months at a time.
My experiences were my own. I am not in any way stating this is how all patients are treated by Dr. Inman's office and Dr. Inman herself.

I MET DR.MARGARET INMAN ON 6-16-03 FOR MY INITIAL CONSULTATION, I FOUND HER TO BE VERY PROFESSIONAL,UPFRONT, FRIENDLY,GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR AND VERY EAGER TO ANSWER ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS. I MET HER AT ST VINCENT/carmel HOSPITAL. I AM WAITING ON AN APPROVAL FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND I HOPE IT WILL BE VERY SOON AS I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SURGERY THIS YEAR AND DR.INMAN IS ALREADY BOOKED THRU OCTOBER... WILL POST MORE AFTER I FIND OUT APPROVAL

Dr. Marema is not only a surgeon of WLS he is also a patient! So he really understands how we REALLY feel! I think he has the most well rounded program. I think surgery is only the first step and I want the HELP AND SUPPORT after the bills are paid as well. And that is the impression I have gotten from Dr. Marema and his staff the support groups that I have attended have been wonderful and very educating both at Celebration in Orlando and in Ft. Lauderdale. Where I will be traveling to for surgery. 3hrs from home but worth the drive! I would recomend Dr. Marema and Staff to EVERYONE! I have changed to Dr. Diaz he is one of Dr. Marema Partners and he is moving closer to me to Celebration Hospital in Orlando only 40 min. from home.
Since Dr. Diaz isn't on board at Celebration yet I will have to travel to Ft. Lauderdale and then stay in the area for a little over a week to make sure that all has gone well with surgery and that there are no problems. So we will leave the hospital and move to this GREAT RESORT across from the BEACH. AND IT's affordable it is called SHOREHAVEN RESORT 1-800-552-1959. and it is only like 1 1/2 miles from the hospital and it is a great paradise to walk around and start recovering at. YEAH!!
EVERYTHING IS GREAT WITH THIS WHOLE PROGRAM AND I FEEL SORRY FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE SURGERY WITH THIS GROUP AFTER ALL OUR LIFE IS ON THE LINE AND WE DESERVE THE VERY BEST AND THIS IS THE VERY BEST!!!
ON MAY 30TH 2003 Dr. Diaz did my surgery and he will forever be my hero, he saved my life with this surgery and everything went real smooth. He has a great personality and a wonderful person and you can understand EVERYTHING that he tells you!!!

The care I received was absolutely outstanding.

Only downside to hospital - and be reminded my surgery was performed in March 2000 - was the god-awful cable that was there for "enjoying" (?) TV