Help please! Not sure which hospital is better.

I am entering my 17th week of a 24 week course of Options (Pre-Bari) classes through Kaiser in Fontana, CA. Soon I will be making my decision as to which hospital to choose. I have a choice of Crown Bariatric or Pacific Bariatric. I have heard many opinions about both. I live in the high desert (Hesperia), so both are a distance for me. I would like to hear personal experinces from paitents that have used either facility and what you thought about the hospitals and their staff. Please, this would help eliviate a lot of stress I am under in making this decision. Thank you in advance.

I am a Crown Bariatric patient.....almost 7 years ago. I loved Dr. Suh and he did a banged up job. There are many Suh patients here...long termers too.....I know Pacific is good also....but you know I am partial to Suh for obvious reason. Good luck with your decision and congratulations on 17 weeks and counting...won't be long until you are on the LOSING side!!!

Can you make appointments with each, and then whichever one makes you feel the most comfortable is the one you go with?  Part of my process of picking a doc was very dependent on their staff.  My reasoning was that you spend very little time with the actual surgeon, but are interacting quite often with this staff.

Although I had neither one of these docs, I have not heard a negative thing about either one of them so it might be a coin toss for you, OR choose the one that can schedule your surgery to best fit your time frame.

I wish you good karma.  I firmly believe that your life is going to change sooo much and you will be on the wildest ride of your life, but also the best ride of your life.

Hugs to you!!

I went through Pacific Bariatrics.  I know that Scripps (Hospital) bariatric unit is a Center of Excellence.  The doctors at PB are excellent and they all want all of their patients to be successful and healthy. 

Good luck with your decision.

Kim

I say you should go to Pac Bar!  

Greetings,

I am also a Crown patient and just had my surgery just 5 weeks ago. Dr. Suh is one of the best doctors that I have dealt with in a very long time. His caring and compassion go above and beyond the normal doctor in my opinion. They also have a number that they give you for any after hours issues or emergencies. They too, are a Center of Excellence for bariatric surgery. The hospital is very well kept and the staff are very caring to our needs.

I started my WLS journey through Kaiser here in Fontana several years ago and we had the same choice to make. San Diego was a distance for me and I didnt want to have to stat there for a week after the surgery (this may have changed since I was in the progam).........Just my 2 cents

Have a great day.............Rick

I went to Crown Dr Suh is a great Dr. Inland Valley Medical Center is also a center of excellence. The rooms are great and big and you have enough room to have someone stay the night with you.

I am a Crown Surgery patient.  Of course I have wonderful things to say about Dr. Suh.  I chose him over others when I compared the "complications" of my other WLS friends. I interviewed 4 surgeons and went back to Dr. Suh.  Its a distance no matter where you go.  I decided to stay in a hotel the night before so I could get a good nights rest and be closer with less stress.  Glad I did because they called me in earlier!   Now, on the flip side, I have two friends who have Pacific and are happy with their choice. Ultimately, it should be the surgeon YOU feel most comfortable with.

I'm waiting to start the next round of classes at the Fontana center but have not received any information as to when they will be starting . When is your 24 weeks over?
Good luck with your decision.

Heidi