"Note: Dr. Harrington is still listed for Richmond as of April 2005, but his practice is now based in Silver Spring MD and he heads the bariatric program at Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park MD. He also operates at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, and patients can choose either hospital's bariatric program.
I was very impressed with Dr. Harrington's blunt honesty about the risks of surgery at his pre-op info session. Alfreda and Jackie run things at the office, and they are superb! They are allies who want to help as much as they can, rather than robots who view you as just another anonymous set of paperwork. Dr. Harrington is a quiet sort, and I liked him very much on a personal level. He answered all my questions thoroughly, and clearly enjoys his work.
I would say that he's well suited for patients who are independent, educated about their health and WLS, and strongly motivated to succeed. If you hate micromanaging bosses or arrogant doctors, you'll find Dr. Harrington to be a refreshing change! There's no mandatory pre-op weight loss. You're required to have a psych evaluation, a nutrition class, and a variety of pre-op exams depending on your health issues. As of now he has no program fee, either, which is becoming unusual in this region. He doesn't have a nutritionist on staff; you can make nutritionist appointments through either hospital at a reasonable price. There's a free monthly support group that meets at each hospital.
When you visit Dr. Harrington's Silver Spring office, bring plenty of change for the parking garage meters and be very careful crossing Spring Street! Dr. Harrington shares office space with a family practitioner, so there are plenty of child- and parent-oriented reading materials around. If you're not into kids, bring your own magazine. The waiting area has normal-sized armchairs rather than over-sized ones."
"Pam Godwin has been my primary care provider for most of the four years I've been going to Comprehensive Primary Care. She has never worked with a bariatric patient before, but is very excited at the opportunity (three of her patients made the decision around the same time) and has done much research to ensure her knowledge is up to date. Her chart notes were in great detail (to satisfy my insurance company), and the practice is now computerized - medical records and prescriptions are printed, not scribbled. She's very encouraging and personable, and I recommend her with the greatest possible enthusiasm! "
"I saw Shelley twice during my six-month diet (needed for insurance approval). She was very knowledgeable about nutrition. I got the impression that she prefers patients to diet rather than get surgery, but she also understands when you've hit that last option. She's very caring and kind, and I recommend her without reservation!"
"Negative: Parking can be a little tough sometimes, although not horrible. Pre-Op staff was invisible most of the time (my surgeon was delayed with his previous patient, so I spent six hours in Pre-Op with few updates). Rooms were small and the doors were left open most of the time, so even my private room was very noisy and not all that private - I could hear other patients constantly. Hospital feels in need of a renovation. There was a TV in the room, but with very limited channels and I never figured out how to turn it off! Nursing staff seemed a bit overworked.
Positive: Ward nurses were very kind and helpful, especially Rachel on the night shift. All bariatric patients have private rooms (just try to keep the door closed!). The hospital and staff are very well-prepared for bariatric patients.
Overall, it's not a very modern hospital and I don't know if I'd choose to go there again. However, the staff I encountered was uniformly good albeit overworked."
