The Weight Loss Center at Pinnacle Health Bariatric Center
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Dr. DiMarco is opening The Weight
Loss Clinic late July, 2000, in Harrisburg, PA. He has been performing laparoscopic Gastric bypass procedures since 1998.
The phone number listed in the web page is actually the Fax line at his surgery office. The proper phone number for Central Penna Surgical Associates is (717) 652 - 1107.
The phone number for The Weight Loss Clinic will be (717) 909 - 0290 and will be activated about August 1, 2000.
I work for Dr. DiMarco and wanted to clarify the proper phone numbers.
Steve J.
7/6/00 HE WAS LATE FOR THE APPOINTMENT BY AN HOUR.
WHEN HE ARRIVED HE DID NOT RUSH ME AT ALL!
HE ANSWERED EVERY QUESTION I ASKED. HE DID
NOT TALK DOWN TO ME ABOUT MY WEIGHT AND MADE
ME FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE PROUD BECAUSE I WANT
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT BEING OVERWEIGHT. HE
ALSO IS STARTING A PROGRAM AND HAS HIRED A
DIETICIAN AND A PSYCHOLOGIST. MY HUSBAND
ACCOMPANIED ME AND HE ALSO SPOKE DIRECTLY TO
HIM AND ASKED IF HE HAD ANY QUESTIONS, WHICH
HE DID. I ALSO ASKED HIM SOME HARD QUESTIONS
PERTAINING TO THE HOSPITAL HE IS AFFILIATED
WITH AND ABOUT SOME PROBLEMS OTHERS HAVE
ENCOUNTERED. HE ANSWERED EVERTHING TO MY
SATISFACTION. HE SEEMED VERY TRUTHFUL AND
VERY DOWN TO EARTH. AT THIS P0INT I WOULD
CERTAINLY RECOMMEND HIM, ALTHOUGH HE SEEMS
LIKE HE IS OVERWHELMED WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT
THIS SURGERY DONE. HE HAS BEEN DOING ONE A
WEEK, BUT NEXT WEEK HE WILL START DOING TWO A
WEEK INSTEAD.
Great guy! No nonsense about getting where you want to be. Doesn't make you jump through all the hoops I've seen others have to do. I think he knows what we've been through before walking through his door. His staff and I had some friction the first week of getting things started but I believe that was more my fault. I've been in medicine for nearly 20 years and we (medical people) are the worst patients.
Met with Dr Dimarco on 6/1/00. Very nice Dr. Took his time to explain everything about the surgery from beginning to end. He answered any question that I had. I'm now waiting for an approval from my ins. co. I'm hoping hey don't take to long to get the letters to the ins. co. I Office staff was very nice. they are in the process of moving their office and I'm afraid that will slow the process of the leters going ou to the ins. co. down. He said they are booking for surgery in august now,which I'm not happy to wait that long before I have this done but if I have to I will.Will be back with more comments when I recieve a date.
(Feb22,00) I set up my appointment to meet the surgeon
and called a few days before to verify my date
and time. I finally got there to see him to find he was stuck in surgery. That happens
Finally got to meet Dr. DiMarco and it was a very pleasant experience. Very informative,
very approachable and down to earth and didn't rush me at
all (I like that). I decided (before I went) that I wanted
to do this and submitted to the office manager a prewritten
list of co-morbidities and reasons I wanted to do this to help
with the insurance company. I even called my insurance
company and got the name of the person who would be
handling the case and brought that too (I want this bad). I swear they must think I'm a TYPE-A. I'll try not to call too much. But I
think I need to be a more patient-patient. I'll post more later. I would love to hear from anyone else who is
on this ride and wants to talk about it. Thanks.
APRIL 18th - I just got a call from my insurance company, I'm Approved!
And now I'm scared to death..... maybe I never thought they'd approve it
so I resolved myself to that fact. I've talked to many of you over the
last several weeks and appreciate all your comments
and kind words. Currently I'm dealing with the thought of how to tell
people what's going on.....maybe I'll just let them whisper behind my back, you know "I think he has cancer or something" I don't want to be put on the defense after all the soul searching that
I've been through. I've found that even bringing up the WLS issue illicits big negative
reactions like "just push yourself away from the table" and include comments regarding vanity.... 305 lbs at 5'9" isn't vanity, it's
a health crisis.
APRIL 20TH - I just spoke with Dr. DiMarco and he said some of his staff members feel that
I am not happy with the way things are going.... I like to joke around a lot and perhaps I am a little bit of TYPE-A, but this is such a serious
situation and serious surgery that perhaps a little comic relief is in order. At any rate, I apologized to the
staff for any misunderstandings and look forward to working with them for the next year or two. I would offer a suggestion to relax a little and realize they are in a business where they get to watch peoples dreams come true and be a part of that. That is very exciting and they should share in that.
APRIL 20TH - I HAVE A DATE.... JUNE 30TH!
He is very kind and understanding. I thought that when I went in for a consultation, it would be a horrible experience trying to explain myself. This was not so, Dr. DiMarco is very open and approachable. He did not "speak down" to me, like other doctors would. His staff is wonderful also. I am still pre-op, but my impression so far is teriffic.
He seemed very caring and understanding.He explained the surgery to me and took time with me. He did not make me feel at all uncomfortable because of my weight.
For the most part the office staff would answer my questions or get the answer from the doctor and call me with the answers. It did seem like it took them awhile to get the information to the insurance.
This is one area that I feel could be better with Dr.DiMarco. Saw him 10 days post/op and then will see him in one month again.
I do feel that there really could be a better aftercare program. You are kind of left on your own. I feel a support group of some kind would be very helpful.
I did like Dr.DiMarco and his concern for me while in the hospital. He did come everyday and check on me.
Very kind, personable and knowldgeable. He and his office staff helped me work out questions with the hospital. Affordable, he does not require endless extra sometimes unneeded things. I had Lap surgery - and am pleased with him, his staff, the hospital and everything (so far) :)). He takes time to answer any questions and does not make you feel rushed. He is pleased to have someone asking questions and exhibiting knowledge of the surgery and wants each one to be fully informed. I would recommend him highly.