"I started out with Dr. Terry Sanderfer who is like a big teddy bear, but then just a few weeks before I was going to have my pre-op visit, he stopped performing wls (he usually performed distal rny.) His partner, Dr. Koon, didn't take my insurance, so I had to wait a couple more months until they brought Dr. Krahn into the practice.
At first, I thought Dr. Krahn was an intense, humorless, little guy that I called Doogie Howser because he was so young (and I'm only 39, so he really looked young!) However, as I got to know him, I understood that his intensity is really his passion about his work, his patients, and the outcome of wls. I grew to have a deep respect for him, and found out that he's a pretty funny guy!
I was his first patient at Parkview Community and his protocol is much different than Drs. Koon and Sanderfer, so they were really the worst part of my aftercare. Dr Krahn or the staff he shares with Drs. S and Koon were there for me anytime I needed them--mostly the support staff, though, because his San Bernadino office is soooo busy, and I was sometimes his last visit of the day. Usually. that was ok, Frieda was his nurse at the time and she was the most wonderful person ever! I wish she was still there for others to benefit from her compassion! She even brought me a softball because I told her it was my goal to play on a softball team next year! Debbie is absolutely great, and I had a feeling that everybody was behind me, pulling for me, and really cared about my outcome. However, my being the last visit was only a problem on the day I was discharged--he said he'd be there by 5 and didn't get there until 7. I didn't have a car at the time, so I planned on taking the train home. My son got out of high school early to come pick me up, and we waited for hours. It took an hour to get discharged and I missed the last train going to Los Angeles--We had to take the bus home! But, I understand that things happen, it wasn't life or death, just extremely uncomfortable, and I got over it!
And talk about structured, Dr. Krahn has a terrific binder with everything anyone ever wanted to know about wls (but was afraid to ask...lol) I really had no questions about what I was doing, he laid it all out for me.
I don't think I could have asked for a more competent, thoughtful, compassionate surgical team, led by Dr. Krahn. Parkview hospital need to be a little more careful about hiring their nursing staff and technical staff--I was absolutely unimpressed--but having Dr. Krahn there for me made me feel empowered that I could ask for what I needed and he would back me up 100%. I also developed a low-grade fever, which actually always happens whenever I have a surgical procedure--this was my 4th--and i NEVER had a surgeon more concerned or thourough about it! He ordered all kinds of tests and it turned out that I just needed to walk more and continue to heal!
On a scale of 1-10, he's a 12!"
