Guest guest Posted June 12, 2001 Report Share Posted June 12, 2001 I just got a promise from my PCP to refer me to the surgeon of my choice (!) for a consultation. I went into my physical with my arguments planned out, if necessary, but all I had to say was " what about weight loss surgery? " and she just about leaped to grab my chart. She wasn't too familiar with surgeons in New Jersey, and when I said " gee, I was kinda hoping to go to New York, " she said " fine, tell me who you want to go to and I'll write it up for you. " It should all be this easy. Now I have to tell her who to put on the referral. I am sure there are others here who have faced down the choice of Mt. Sinai or NYU. What I'd like to know is not (just) what made you choose one over the other, but if you had to make that choice again, would you make the same one? And as my math teacher used to say, " show your work " . If you've changed your mind, why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2001 Report Share Posted June 12, 2001 In a message dated 6/12/01 7:54:34 PM, duodenalswitch writes: << Now I have to tell her who to put on the referral. I am sure there are others here who have faced down the choice of Mt. Sinai or NYU. What I'd like to know is not (just) what made you choose one over the other, but if you had to make that choice again, would you make the same one? And as my math teacher used to say, " show your work " . If you've changed your mind, why? >> I had surgery with Dr. Gagner on January 25. I would definately have the surgery done with him again in a heartbeat. I'm thinking of trying to switch to Dr. Ren for followup - not sure if she's on my plan and/or if this is possible, but the aftercare is pretty shoddy at Mt. Sinai. Mainly it's the nurse and her inability to get back to people in a reasonable time. I STILL haven't gotten information on my three month post-op labs, although she called today and left a brief, terse message. I called her back and told her I didn't get to the phone in time to answer it and would keep the phone with me to please call back. Of course, she didn't return my call. She didn't even leave any information on the message machine as to whether she recieved the faxed or mailed labwork results! So, I'm left totally wondering. I'm writing Dr. GAgner again because I really don't want to play phone tag with her for another week. Sigh. But, despite this, I had every confidence in Dr GAgner and my surgery experience was unimaginably good. NOt saying it couldn't be with Dr Ren but I would bet on Dr. Gagner again. I would definately do it if I could obtain aftercare somewhere else - either another surgeon at the Mt Sinai practice (which has a different nurse/PA) or a different surgeon entirely. all the best, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2001 Report Share Posted June 12, 2001 Patti, you are right evonne is damaging gagner and here i see people wanting to go elsewhere to avoid her,,she is a bitch and i never was mean but i prey she gets sick and has a nurse like her to deal with. karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2001 Report Share Posted June 12, 2001 Yes, I'm one who hasn't decided for sure who I'm going to yet, but after hearing about his office, I will not make an appointment with Dr Gagner. There's too much other stress without having to deal with someone like that. And the doctor must know about her, I'm sure there have been many complaints. Maybe she's his wife? Ha ha. Well, what goes around does come around sooner or later. Sheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2001 Report Share Posted June 12, 2001 Lenny you were one of the few lucky ones,,she has been a thorn in my side since the beginning of my decision to have this,,i almost went to dr ren at nyu to avoid her,,i am glad i had gagner but someone has to put an end to evonne, i am a nurse and dont treat patients like this,,she is a disgrace to my profession nurse, ny one week post op Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2001 Report Share Posted June 12, 2001 MARY GOOD IDEA, NOW HOW DO WE ALL DO IT? KAREN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2001 Report Share Posted June 12, 2001 I too had Gagner at Mt. Sinai as a surgeon and would use him again -- absolutely. and I too have had trouble with ivonne, his nurse. It is pretty unfortunate that so many people are having this problem. Has anyone complained? maybe if enough of us did they would hire more help. i did complain a while ago to the office manager via e-mail, and never got a response. My complaint was that Ivonne did not get back to me for over 3 days when I was immediately post-op and had some bad back pain and discharge from an incision--didn't know what medication to take, etc. It just sucks! It's not fair, we are the customers1 they just do the surgery and put us out to pasture. that's how i feel sometimes. If we treated clients like that at my place of business, there would be no business! Knowing all of this though, I would use Gagner again. I believe he is the most skilled lap surgeon. he was the first surgeon to do the DS laparascopicsally. He has really mastered it and his surgeries take less time than others. I had an unexpected complication during surgery and he knew how to take care of it without hesitation. That I admire. Jill K in NY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2001 Report Share Posted June 12, 2001 Perhaps several post ops ought to write and collectively sign a well worded letter to Dr Gagner including some precise information and your concerns. Patient safety is at risk here. in Seattle ----- Original Message ----- and I too have had trouble with ivonne, his nurse. It is > pretty unfortunate that so many people are having this problem. Has > anyone complained? maybe if enough of us did they would hire more help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2001 Report Share Posted June 12, 2001 He definitely knows about it from me, as I emailed yesterday. After a month of waiting for a return call, I got one the morning after I emailed him. It is really too bad that a bad nurse and office staff can damage a fine surgeon such as Dr. Gagner's practice. Patti Re: Re: Would You Go There Again? > Perhaps several post ops ought to write and collectively sign a well worded > letter to Dr Gagner including some precise information and your concerns. > Patient safety is at risk here. > > in Seattle > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > and I too have had trouble with ivonne, his nurse. It is > > pretty unfortunate that so many people are having this problem. Has > > anyone complained? maybe if enough of us did they would hire more help. > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2001 Report Share Posted June 12, 2001 Amen!!!!!! What comes around, always goes around. Patti Re: Re: Would You Go There Again? Patti, you are right evonne is damaging gagner and here i see people wanting to go elsewhere to avoid her,,she is a bitch and i never was mean but i prey she gets sick and has a nurse like her to deal with. karen ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2001 Report Share Posted June 12, 2001 I had Dr Gagner, no problems with Ivonne, when I had a post out discharge she tracked down dr quinn (dr Gagner was in Japan) and later she called to see if evrything was resolved. My main reason for Gagner weas his skilla nd my fear fo a long surgry, he did my surgry in 2hrs and spent 20 extra minutes on adhesions from an appendectomy scar. @ hrs is a greeat record and my recovery has been exceptional. Yes, I would go there again, in spite of office deficiencies. LennyB BDP/DS apr2 __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2001 Report Share Posted June 13, 2001 Being the one who originally asked this question, I'm amazed at the outpouring of antagonism this one person at Sinai has sparked. It sounds to me like she is terribly overworked and right at her limits. That happens to people in my profession too, and it always pisses off the patients, clients, customers, whatever that have to deal with it. I have also seen myself be the lightning rod for people who are going through a difficult time and need some place to discharge all of that anxiety and stress. " This would not have been such a bad experience except that ____ didn't do her job properly. " In truth, there is no way to go through surgery involving major body parts and functions without having something of a crappy time. That doesn't mean that patient problems and questions shouldn't be dealt with in a timely manner. It does mean that it's not her fault that surgery is difficult and the immediate post op period is painful. Those things would be true if this woman returned phone calls within 10 minutes. Actually, if I end up going to Mt. Sinai it won't be to Dr. Gagner - the consult date I got was with Dr. Pomp. So setting aside the office staff/nurse question, how is the hospital? Re: Re: Would You Go There Again?Lenny you were one of the few lucky ones,,she has been a thorn in my side since the beginning of my decision to have this,,i almost went to dr ren at nyu to avoid her,,i am glad i had gagner but someone has to put an end to evonne, i am a nurse and dont treat patients like this,,she is a disgrace to my profession nurse, ny one week post op ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2001 Report Share Posted June 13, 2001 - that is an excellent idea. Ellen(Pam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2001 Report Share Posted June 13, 2001 I'm assuming you mean the letter. If not, I flunk mind-reading 101. lol Find out who would be willing to sign it. Come up with a draft of a letter. Get all to read and agree to it. And then send it with a return receipt required to the doc. I'm not a Dr G patient but will help any way I can. I hate to see anyone in our profession treat others so badly. in Seattle Re: Re: Would You Go There Again? MARY GOOD IDEA, NOW HOW DO WE ALL DO IT? KAREN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2001 Report Share Posted June 13, 2001 ---In truth, there is no way to go through surgery involving major body parts and functions without having something of a crappy time. That doesn't mean that patient problems and questions shouldn't be dealt with in a timely manner. It does mean that it's not her fault that surgery is difficult and the immediate post op period is painful. Those things would be true if this woman returned phone calls within 10 minutes. What you say is true, that you won't feel well after surgery and that is not the nurse's fault, but this is not minor surgery. When you are not feeling well you don't know if the pain is " normal " or signs of something seriously wrong and it should not be the patients decision whether it is serious enough to " bother " the nurse. That is part of this surgery--the aftercare. The first week to a month is a time when people can have leaks--which can be deadly. I had surgery with Dr. Ren and always got someone to speak to speak to--usually within an hour always within the day. Actually, your question of whether I would do it again I can answer. I did not have my gallbladder removed. I have had intermitten pain the last few weeks--figured it was gas, but then thought--hey maybe I should ask Dr. Ren. Called her on Friday she called me back Friday night, got a sonagram and, yes, my gallbladder is not right. I don't have stones, but it is sludgy--so I will have it removed with Dr. Ren probably next week. We are not sure if it is causing the pain, but it is comforting to know that if it is not, I will be able to get the help I need. I think Dr. Ren is an excellent surgeon and am relieved to know that she is now officially part of my HMO. Dbbr (Deborah) NYU, Dr. Ren, Jan12 LAP DS BMI 38, Now 26.3 Bluecross Healthchoice 65 pounds gone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2001 Report Share Posted June 13, 2001 if you had to make that choice again, would you make the same one? And as my math teacher used to say, "show your work". If you've changed your mind, I had no problems with Dr. Gagner, my surgery was done in 2 1/2 hours. I went home 46 hours after surgery feeling fine. All pain meds were stopped on the day after surgery. I had a pain on my left side for eight days, I was told that it was healing going on. That pain is gone and I feel fantastic. My one complaint is that I never saw Gagner before or after the surgery. I was switched on Memorial Day weekend and he left town. Dr. Pomp saw me in the hospital and returned my call. Ivonne may be overworked but she has an attitude that seems like she is talking DOWN to us because we are nothing but fat obese people and she is the reigning QUEEN. That is my feeling! I had more problems pre-op that post-op. Ivonne never received my reports that were faxed to her, took me about six tries for her to get them. When I asked Ivonne a question about the fax she talked to me like I was a child. The hospital and personnel I had no problems with, but I wasn't there very long. I will say I definitely needed my DH the day after surgery. I will say in Ivonne's defense when I did call one time post-op she seemed caring and reassuring to me. Alice Lap BPD/DS Dr. Ganger Mt. Sinai May 24th 2001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2001 Report Share Posted June 13, 2001 Now that would be " Poetic Justice!!! On Wed, 13 Jun 2001 00:31:49 EDT Happy2knowU2@... writes: > Patti, > you are right evonne is damaging gagner and here i see people > wanting to go > elsewhere to avoid her,,she is a bitch and i never was mean but i > prey she > gets sick and has a nurse like her to deal with. > karen Vera- Lansdale,Pa Starting Bmi-61-11/00 Dr. Herron / Dr. Pomp assisting @ Mt. Sinai, New York Open BPD/DS done 01/26/01 PCP scale ? weeks out -91 lbs gone forever as of 05/24/01 ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2001 Report Share Posted June 13, 2001 That is an easy one for me to answer: 1. I got the run around on the phone from the get go from the Mt Sinai Group. On hold long distance 20 minutes. Voice Mail messages never answered. I figured it would be just as hard to deal with after surgery as it was just trying to make an appt. The best of surgeon's can not help you if you can not reach them. I had the exact same experience with Mt Sinai grp. Decided on Dr. J Macura, Staten Island, NY, instead. Dr. Ren was not on her own yet. I am 100% pleased with my decision not to use Mt Sinai grp. My after care has been fabulous. When I call Dr Macura's office for anything I am treated like I am their #1 priority. Resa Opn ds 2-12-2001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2001 Report Share Posted June 13, 2001 That is an easy one for me to answer: 1. I got the run around on the phone from the get go from the Mt Sinai Group. On hold long distance 20 minutes. Voice Mail messages never answered. I figured it would be just as hard to deal with after surgery as it was just trying to make an appt. The best of surgeon's can not help you if you can not reach them. 2. Dr Ren at NYU studied with Dr Gagner and helped to develope the lap technique. 3. I received the total attention of the staff at Dr Ren and NYUMC. And still do. A phone call never goes unattended. Nor do my emails. No question goes unanswered. I am not just one of a hundred patients. I feel like my care is totally individual. Viau http://www.angelfire.com/on/wannabemagic/WLS.html 3/29/01: 3166/13/01: 263 (-53 lbs)Dr Ren, NYUMC http://www.thinforlife.orgTo join the new group for Dr Ren click on the link belowhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/NYUMC-thinforlife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2001 Report Share Posted June 14, 2001 I ended up choosing Dr Ren at NYU over Dr Gagner at Mt Sinai. The reasons have chiefly to do with what appears to me as a complete lack of service at Mt Sinai: when I went to their post-op support meeting, it was an incredible nightmare where people shouted at others, there were way too many people for support to be effective for all, and the facilitators didn't have the courage to run the meeting, letting the mean people do it. The meeting wasn't a safe space to discuss your feelings considering the reactions of some of those people (shouting, finger-pointing, etc.) Second, while I understand that this is a popular group (Mt. Sinai), the wait for an appointment is ridiculous. Finally, I read in these lists email after email complaining about how difficult it is to get in touch with the support staff and how unhelpful they are when you finally do. They often don't answer emails or return phone calls, and in my limited experience with them, I found them rude and not at all compassionate considering the life situations of the people they are targeted to help. By contrast, Dr Ren's support group was excellent. The support staff was friendly and very helpful, and the people who attended were more than willing to discuss their experiences and answer questions. I didn't have any problems with rudeness or accessibility; they answer the phone and Dr Ren replied to an email from me directly. I prefer to take my chances with her rather than Mt Sinai. Dr Gagner, as skilled as he is, is only going to be present in my care for a few hours. The rest is his horrible support team. Would You Go There Again? I just got a promise from my PCP to refer me to the surgeon of my choice (!)for a consultation. I went into myphysical with my arguments planned out, if necessary, but all I had to saywas "what about weight loss surgery?" and she just about leaped to grab mychart. She wasn't too familiar with surgeons in New Jersey, and when I said"gee, I was kinda hoping to go to New York," she said "fine, tell me who youwant to go to and I'll write it up for you." It should all be this easy.Now I have to tell her who to put on the referral. I am sure there areothers here who have faced down the choice of Mt. Sinai or NYU. What I'dlike to know is not (just) what made you choose one over the other, but ifyou had to make that choice again, would you make the same one? And as mymath teacher used to say, "show your work". If you've changed your mind,why?---------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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