Vanderbilt Center for Surgical Weight Loss Bariatric Center
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Dr. English was outstanding-excellent bedside manner, forthright w/o being brutal about the surgery-risks, complications etc. My liver was enlarged and he advised about dietary changes that would increase my chances of having a successful laproscopic procedure. I followed them-not completely, but made considerable changes, and did have a successful laproscopic procedure.
His nurse Arisha was excellent and followed up on all issues. Some people have reported some difficulty getting call backs from different office staff, but I had no difficulty over all. I am currently awaiting a call back and will up date this if prob occur.
Their office does have a monthly structured aftercare program, however, I live 4 hours from Ft. Lauderdale and will probably be using obesityhelp and perhaps a local support group.
Before getting set up for surgery, you must attend an info session that talks generally about the surgery, then a smaller group session where the group discusses their statistics, allows you to ask questions, and addresses causes of success and failure.
What I like most about this group is that they are VERY EXPERIENCED in laproscopic surgery and have excellent outcomes. Dr. Carresquilla was a pioneer in this surgery and Dr. English has done many hundreds laproscopically. In their practice only 2-3% are converted to open procedure. The other practices did open procedures 20-80% of the time. According to their stats 87% of their patients will maintain a weight loss of 50% of the weight they need to lose (this compares w/50% national average).
Dr. English is outstanding, would not hesitate to recommend him enthusiastically. Both bedside manner and competence are excellent.
I met Dr Carrisquilla first and found him to be personable, warm, empathetic, and very knowledgable. He assured me that if I liked him I would love Dr. English. That was true. He is a soft spoken, gentle, reassuring. He left no stone unturned when warning of possible problems or complications. Everything was explained in detail. I liked the whole process, Dr. Carrisquilla came to Key West and gave a presentation to anyone in the community that was interested. Booklets explaining the process and a slide show with question and answere period was offered. A call to the office after was placed and I received a detailed health questioneer which I filled in and faxed back. The next day I made an appointment to come to the office. The following week (Dec.5, 2002)I was seen in the offive for an additional info session, met with a nurse, and Dr Carrisquilla. Over the next 2 weeks my package was prepared for the insurance company (I was not asked for any additional supporting documentation). On Jan 3 2003 I received a call whising me a happy and HEALTHY New Year from Becky my insurance co (United Health) had approved my surgery. My pre-op day went smothly. Florida Medical Center was organized with no delays, the staff was wonderful. After lunch I had my physical with Dr. English he was terriffic. I was immediately comfortable. My partner liked him too as he involved her in the process immediately. Feb.5 2003 I had my surgery and am quickly recovering at home theis week.
<B>I met Dr English at my pre op physical on Jan. 30, 2003. My consultation was with Dr Carrasquilla. Dr English was very kind, and quite firm about the fact that this is a very serious surgery. Even though he had been delayed in surgery and was running about an hour and a half behind, he never made me feel rushed. He was gentle during the physical and allowed my mother to sit in and ask questions. He was adamant that I call the office if I have ANY questions.<P>
I had my consultation with Dr Carrasquilla,Jan 3, 2003. There were 4 of us interested in surgery at the consult. I took my mom and friend with me. I was told both could come back but if there wasn't room my friend would have to wait in the waiting room for us. Luckly there was room. We were each weighed, blood pressure taken ( privately) then our pictures taken individually. We then viewed a film made by Dr Carrasquilla. He was the first Dr to preform LAP RNY in Florida and has trained other Docotors all over the states. Then Dr Carrasquilla came in, recapped and expanded some on the film and asked if we had questions. He answered all the questions and encouraged us to think of more ( ok, so I'm a dork and I had a LIST of questions typed up.. lol... he didn't mind at all ). I was very well prepared and knew most of the issues already from all the reading I have done on this site. He told us if we had any other questions at all to please call and ask them. You get a private consultation once you are approved for surgery. Or if you wish you can schedule a private consultation. Dr C was very upfront about everything, covered all the areas of concern. He seemed to be very genuinely caring about his patients and was very proud of the success pictures and how happy the people in them were.He was pleased and happy for THEM and you could see it in his eyes. His office does now require anyone having this surgery to have a psychological consult. They suggest a local group that are trained in the bariatric field. I don't mind this at all, due to the fact that I have talked to some people and read info from some people that I think were in no mental state to have the surgery. One example being a girl that proudly told my friend that she just ate till she threw up and ate some more. Anyway, they don't feel I should have problems being approved by my insurance, it could take up to 4 weeks, then I make all my preop appointments and get a date. I was very comfortable throughout the entire experience. Becky who corrdinates the consultation appointments and handles the insurance was very friendly and informative. I really didn't have any extended contact with anyone in the office that day.<P>
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DR. ENGLISH IS A WONDERFUL MAN. HE HAS BEEN GREAT. THE OFFICE STAFF IS ALWAYS WILLING TO ASK ANY QUESTION YOU HAVE AND CONCERNS ETC...FMC IS THE HOSPITAL THE NURSES THAT TOOK CARE OF ME WERE GREAT, THE ACCOMADATION WERE SUITABLE FOR PATIENT WHOM ARE OBESE. THEY ENCOURAGE YOU TO WALK RIGHT AFTER SUGERY WHICH HELPS IN THE HEALING PROCESS.
i WAS INSURGERY FOR 4 HRS WHICH IS VERY LONG FOR THIS PROCEDURE,BECAUSE MY LIVER WAS EXTREMLY LARGE. DR. ENGLISH DID HE BEST AND IT WAS LAPROSCOPIC AND I THANK HIM FOR THAT!!! OVERALL IT WAS WELL WORTH IT I WEIGHED 463LBS AND I'M 41/2 MONTHS POST-OP AND I'VE LOST 130 LBS.
I love him. Dr. English is awesome. Debi and Becky make up his bariatric program. They make the intitial difference. They want it done as a family not a business. The staff came and visited me in the hospital. I can call and bother them anytime I want! I was a part-time manager (stand in) at Lane Bryant. I took my csm to my first meeting and she did it two weeks after me. I took one of my long time fellow customers and teacher to a meeting and supported her as much as I could. It makes a difference when there is a squad cheering for you. My family is still iffy. But I am iffy that I may be adopted ;-)
The after care is wonderful but it is all you. You decide to do it! You owe it to yourself to give it 120% They have aftercare meetings and other things... I have chosen to use my friends for support although they are all large and refuse to shop with me .. Jealousy is a ... The hospital was great! I still see my nurse when I can. She can't believe me!!!
I had my Pre Op consult with Dr. English and he was a very kind man and had excellent bedside manner. Was very attentive to my questions and concerns and made me feel very at ease about the whole process.
12/11/02 Dr English and his staff were so supportative. I am now 6 months out of surgery I had no complications whatsoever. I feel like a new person. Doctor English was the kindest doctor I have ever had and he has made me feel so good about the whole process and my prgress from day one.
Nice person, good surgeon. I had no complications adn was released from the hospital 48 hours after surgery.
Dr. Wayne English is a highly skilled surgeon and has performed hundreds of gastric bypass surgeries. He is very kind and has a genuine concern for his patient. I felt totally comfortable with him from the beginning and chose him because of his excellent track record. The office staff was helpful and friendly. They also took time to answer any questions I had. Dr. English performs the surgery by laproscopy in 98% of his patients. I chose LAP RNY for being the least invasive with the least recovery time. I also chose to be a self pay for the procedure because Dr. English was not on my plan. I did not feel comfortable traveling from Palm Beach County, FL to Miami, Florida to go to a surgeon that was on my Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Options plan. That doctor did not have great reviews on this site and the wait time for an appointment and surgery is very long. I was so confident with the doctor I chose I paid him $5000.00 out of pocket. Florida Medical Center cost $16000.00. So far it was worth every penny.
AT first I thought my surgeon would be Dr Carrasquilla, my first pick.
When I attended the seminar at Florida Medical, the doctor presents a slide presentation and answers all questions and we get to meet former patients, plus his associates.
The presentation is informative and compelling ---- an easy sell for me, since I had previously checked into the surgery when Carnie Wilson had her surgery. Before that, I had lived in California, the place where the "FOBI POUCH" was invented and widely used. I had known about stomach stapling and by-pass surgery for years ----- but i would have had to pay for it back then and couldn't.
The doctor's staff is a wonderful group of seasoned nurses, several of who have had the surgery themselves.
All have been willing to share their personal stories, histories and especially the awesome pictures that sell the surgery so well!
They made no bones about follow up ---- just a once a month support group. But all post-op patients were willing to help in any way they can and i am looking forward to picking their brains at my first meeting.
The aftercare program is what you make of it i guess. It's not all that structured ---you can call with questions and they are happy to help and will tell you what you need to know----but only if you ask. I was disappointed that they missed me at the hospital after my surgery ---- they usually go in and see patients post-op.
Also, due to Dr Carrasquilla's busy lecture schedule now, Dr English became my surgeon. He is warmer than Dr c ----- a definite plus. It didn't help with the problem of my first "unsurgery" and then Dr. English had an out of town emergency that pushed back his schedule and my new date, but they gave me first priority on sept 5th.
I think surgical competence is most important! A lousy doctor with great bedside manner can kill you! lol
But it is nice to have a doctor that cares about you and I think Dr English does. I think it's their staff that has to make up for a lot of the rest and they do. But I don't think their program gets you "prepared" as well as i would have liked, in retrospect. All in all, I would say I would recommend him highly, but Florida Medical needs to improve their program!