"St. Francis is a teaching hospital. Therefore, most of the nurses and interns are foreigners. It is somewhat disconserting when you are undergoing such a major surgery to awaken to have nurses who can barely speak English. However, because it is a teaching hospital, there are all sorts of specialists on call. I felt my care was well managed by my surgeon and the team he put together. My complaint is not with the surgeon or the surgical staff, but with the general hospital staff and the nurses and aids on the floor that I stayed on. There were daily mechanical issues (dripping faucets, lightbulbs out or not working, heating system problems, my bed didn't match height of gurnee so I was dragged across, up and over this difference twice, which was very painful, etc.) There were daily care issues and the nursing staff made it very evident that I didn't rate the same care alotted to someone else who had undergone surgery for a "real" medical reason. I complained to my surgeon on each occasion and just before I left someone from Admin came to talk to me about my concerns and asked me to complete a survey. They should have come after my first complaint!"
" I have changed surgeons! I originally was going to have my surgery done at BTC in Belvidere, Ill. with Dr. Berkowitz, but my insurance would not cover enough of the fees to make it affordable for me. Belvidere is only about 20 miles from my home. So, I went in search of a surgeon who was in my insurance's network and who had a good track record. After researching several surgeons from the Chicago area, I chose Dr. Kenneth Printen. I had my first consult with him on Sept. 14 and I was very pleased. Dr. Printen has been doing WLS for over 30 years and has performed over 2,000 WL operations. Dr. Printen does follow-up with his patients for life. He is extremely personable, as is his office staff. I have had one more consult with him and he wants me to attend a couple of support group meetings and so, I am looking for a support group locally to attend. Dr. Printens office has not recieved a reply from my insurance company yet, so I do not have a date yet. I was previously approved for the surgery though and am just waiting for approval to change surgeon and hospital now."
