"Dr. Colquitt is an experienced, competent surgeon, and this is exactly how he comes across. He is very matter-of-fact and doesn't waste time when explaining things. However, he does make sure that all patients' questions are answered to their satisfaction, and he concisely explained all the pros and cons of the surgery during our first consultation. In fact, I even asked some things numerous times, and he re-answered them thoroughly to reassure me. Personally, he may come off as a little quiet and reserved, which could be mistaken for coldness, but he really does care for each of his patients. I know there are many patients who feel they owe their lives to him. His office staff is also very friendly and reassuring. Unfortunately, the fact that I'm the practice's first gastric sleeve surgery caused a little bit of confusion in the beginning. Luckily, the patient advocate, Terri, has been diligent about making sure I know what's going on, and vice versa, at all times. She even spent 4 hours on the phone with my insurance company to double-check that they didn't cover the procedure! Aftercare is emphasized a lot in this program, and there is now a policy in place that requires all pre-op patients to attend at least 1 support meeting before surgery. I think this is great, as I went to support groups for 4 months before even having my surgery! They've also added 2 more required pre-op classes on body image other psychological issues, which have also been offered to post-op patients at no charge. The program also includes a 3-month membership to the hospital's wellness center and 3 personal training sessions, so we can improve our exercise habits safely after surgery. Our program's coordinator, Dana, and nutritionists, Angie & Heather, are also outstanding. They're a bit more personable than the doctor, and Dana is especially invested in each and every patient. She went out of her way to help me before my surgery and was also present for the procedure -- from the pre-op staging area to the operating room to recovery, and finally to my room in ICU. She checked on me the day after my surgery as well, and even called me at home a few days after I was discharged. Overall, I would say Dr. Colquitt's surgical competence outweighs his bedside manner, but I would still rate him high on all points, at least an 8 out of 10. As for his office staff, I'd give them the same - 8 out of 10. Finally, I'd rate the program coordinator, Dana, and the nutritionists a 10 out of 10, as they couldn't have been more helpful to me so far!"
"Generally, my experience was very good. The pre-op process was smooth, as was the process of transitioning from recovery to my room in ICU. All of the equipment, from the hospital gown to the bed, was designed specifically for bariatric patients, which made things very easy. Also, the nurses who took care of me in ICU -- Marta on days and Greg on nights -- were extremely attentive and made sure I was comfortable at all times. They also kept up with when I needed to walk, sit up for a while, or try to eat. My room was very clean and pleasant, and when my mom decided to spend the night there with me, the Greg even got her a reclining chair to make her more comfortable. The only thing I didn't like about the room was that it shared a bathroom with the room next to it, so every time I had to go to the bathroom, we had to lock the bathroom door to the other room and remember to unlock it again when I was done. But I know I was lucky to have my own room to begin with, so sharing a bathroom was really no problem. In fact, I don't think the person in the other room ever used the bathroom, so I never had to wait or anything like that. When it was time for me to be discharged, a nurse helped us get all my stuff together, wheeled me downstairs, and helped my mom get me into the car. Overall, I would definitely recommend Blount Memorial to other bariatric patients."
