"I entered Avera McKennan weighing 1072 lbs, and they seemed to be prepared for every eventuality. The thing that concerns me about this and other hospitals is that they initially refused to admit me for "liability issues." Even Supermorbidly Obese patients deserve to have medical care, and hospitals who are going to have a bariatric unit should admit every patient that desperately needs care. Dr. Harris's office negotiated on ky behalf and got me in, but that shouldn't have been necessary. "
"Dr. Harris first came to see me at my home in Nebraska. I weighed 1072 lbs and was near death at the time. His concern and compassion was striking even at the time, when I was so sick I was unaware of alot. But he was also very intelligent about exactly what he wanted to do and how he wanted to do it.
As I got to know Dr. Harris in the hospital, I found him to be almost obsessive compulsive about his patients and the care tey received. That is the kind of doctor I was looking for...someone who knew what needed to be done and was willing to do it.
I first met Dr Harris in June, 2004. In the year I have been associated with him and his office, I have found him and his extremely competent staff to be knowledgable on a great deal of subjects to do with bariatrics, and his record as a surgeon is superb. I entered the hospital on June 9, 2004, and had lost 421 lbs in the first 10 weeks. Surgery was in October, 2004, and I have lost a total of 573 lbs as of this writing.
Anyone who needs bariatric surgery in the area surrounding Sioux Falls, SD should definitely seriously consider Dakota Surgical and Dr Fred Harris for the job. In my opinion, no one is more competent in the area."
