Columbia Surgical Associates Organization

My first impression of Dr. Pitt is that he is a great surgeon. I have several coworkers that had already had surgery by him and I have watched their results and know in part it is because of having a caring surgeon. My impression of Dr. Pitt has only changed for the better since I he spoke at the informational seminar he requires for all of his patients, my impression has been more and more positive with every encounter I've had with him. Some of the office staff leave something to desire but most of them are great, they are friendly and helpful. Back to Dr. Pitt I can't think of a thing I like least about hime (I'm going through the questions). Future patients should know that if you have questions and concerns ask, talk to Dr. Pitt he is always willing to spend the time explaining everything you are concerned about. Dr. Pitt empasizes aftercare alot, which I find as one of the many reasons his program is so great. Yes, Dr. Pitt has a structured aftercare program and you know what you are getting into from the informational seminar so there are no suprises unless you don't access the information he and his team make readly avaiable to you. My overall rating of Dr. Pitt is he is the best all around. I don't want to give him a God complex but when your as good a surgeon and person as he is I don't think he is at to much risk of getting such a complex. If I had to say anything negative it was that the NG tube had to stay in until late Thursday afternoon. He often gets it out before the person knows it was there but in my case he saw bubbles so he played it safe, extra stitching extra glue and the NG tube stayed in to pull stuff off my stomach so it had more time to heal. So my negative comment is really at the NG tube, not Dr. Pitt's decision to keep it in that long.

Dr. Pitt was very nice and was very full of knowledge. Dr. Pitt's office staff was very friendly and very helpful, especially Sylvia the bariatrics coordinator. Sylvia went out of her way to make sure that every detail was taken care of and to answer any questions I had. Dr. Pitt really emphasizes after care and how important it is, and he was also very straight forward with all of the risks (no sugar coating). Overall I would rate Dr. Pitt a 10, his surgical competence and bedside matter were both great!

Dr Pitt is a very business-like person. He tells you exactly what you need to hear without all the flowering talk. He points out the risks involved & tells you straight up if he thinks this is going to be an easy procedure or not. His staff is very professional. Dr Pitt's nurse Heidi was extremely helpful & friendly. He is starting a program with the Boone Hospital in Columbia, MO for bariatric surgery.

April 2004--went to seminar for Dr Pitt, he was called to hospital so didn't get to meet him personally. Did see him for few minutes standing in back of room. He looks like Stephen King in some ways. OOOhh spooky! He did call me a few days later to apologize for not being at the seminar. I thought that was very nice of him. He did listen to my questions and told me to please call his office if I had anymore questions and I could call any time. I have more questions now so will get them answered when I meet him at his office for my appt.

May 2004--Dr Pitt's office called and I am on my way. I have my first visit with Dr Pitt on May 27. I can hardly wait. His nurse did say that my insurance, medicare/medicaid would only pay 80% of Dr Pitts bill so I will have to come up with about $300. I hope I can manage it, will have to see after I talk to him. Keep your fingers crossed. Will fill in more details after I have been to meeting with him.

May 12, 2004--I have doctors appt with referral dr to get pre-op tests done. Have two tests to have done and then the results to be passed on to Dr Pitts office. Great I have this done and I am ready to have second visit along with dietician and physical therapist. If I can get them set for the same day I only have to get date of surgery. Yeah! Will fill you in as I go along.

I liked him at the first meeting with him



my impression of him never changed.I think he is a wonderful dr
The staff there is very good.I love his nurse Heidi.
honestly i cant think of nothing i didnt like about him
he is a dr that listens to YOU.and he wont leave till he has all your questions answered.
a lot.
yes he does..

very high risk

excellent dr

both

I was a patient of Dr. Hornbostel but because of problems with the hospital in Sedalia not allowing patients that have United Health Care to be given a WLS date I have been forced to changed doctors. I have an appointment with Dr. Pitt from Columbia the 16th of September. I hope I like Dr. Pitt as much as I did Dr. Hornbostel. I am certain that Boone County Hospital in Columbia will be a much better hospital than Brothwell. Even though this has been a huge waste of my time dealing with the Sedalia hospital I now feel that now nearly one year of work is going to pay off.
9-17-2003 I have my first consultation with Dr. Pitt yesterday and I feel that he is going to be a good doctor. His office staff was very friendly and helpful. My surgery will be open instead of lap but I am OK with that. The good thing is that he does not use the NG tube. I really was freaking out about the nose tube thing so this was a huge relieve to me. He was a very understanding man and was impressed with my level of knowledge of WLS. He is just beginning his "official" WLS program but has already done several surgries. I'm have confidents in him and am just wanting for insurance approval (again) and then I can continue on this journey.

July 19,2003-Eight days out and 2 days home. Dr. Pitt is the best! I would recommend him to anyone looking into this surgery. Today, I called the hospital to leave him a message about something I thought was wrong and my phone rang in 5 minutes. He was right there! I was held back a day from going home because of my pottassaim level. Instead of sending me home with supplements, they pumped me full of supplements, then let me go home. I truly praise him with both competence and bedside manner.

I really like Dr. Pitt. He has taken so much time with me explaining everything in detail and answering all my questions. I believe he truly cares about the emotional needs of the overweight patient. His aftercare program is very detailed and structured. His nurse, Heidi is just great! As is Stephanie in the office. I met a girl that had her gallbladder removed by Dr. Pitt and she really praised him as a surgeon. I'm glad he's with Boone Hospital Center. I really think they're the best. I had my hysterctomy there and my husband also had surgery there.

Both Dr. Pitt and Heidi have gone over the risks involved with this surgery. Dr. Pitt has also emphasized the surgery is a tool for me to use to loose weight and the need for me to regularly exercise after surgery.

I haven't met Dr. Pitt yet. I have my first appointment scheduled for May 8.

FIRST IMPRESSION OF HIM WAS A GOOD FEELING VERY/VERY COMFORTABLE WITH HIM ANSWERED ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS I ASKED TOOK THE TIME TO VISIT WITH ME AND MY MOTHER/I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH HIM THAT DAY I HAD ONE WITH ANOTHER DR IN BUILDING HE SUGGESTED I TALK WITH HIM AND DR PITT TOOK THE TIME
EVERYONE ONE IF OFFICE SEEMS TO BE VERY NICE AND HELPFUL SO FAR
I HAVE ONLY VISITED WITH HIM ONCE SO I CAN'T GIVE VERY MUCH DETAIL ON HIM
I FEEL SURGICAL COMPETENCE IS MOST IMPORTANT BUT BEDSIDE MANNER IS NEEDED AND I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS
WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE MORE INFORMATION IN DETAIL WITH ADDITIONAL VISITS

Still waiting for first consult but know him from a previous situation and his is a good
Dr./Surgeon. will tell more about him after
first consult on Jan. 9th
His office there in Coumbia, Mo. is nice and
right across from the Hospital/Boone. My
oppinion about Boone Hospital is: there the best Hospital around the care there is excellent.