Bruce Duke Bariatric Surgeon M.D., F.A.C.S.

EVERYTHING CONTAINED IS JUST MY HONEST OPINION BASED UPON MY PERSONAL EXPEREINCES. I AM NOT MAKING ANY STATEMENTS REGARDING WHAT ANY OTHER PERSON MAY OR MAY NOT EXPERIENCE. THIS IS JUST WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.

Dr. Bruce Duke was one of the nicest doctors I've ever met~ probably THE nicest. He was realistic, honest and very repectful of me.

Besides my contact with Dr. Duke and his daughter, I had an unacceptable amount of problems with the nursing staff/ office staff. For this reason, after embarking on this weightloss journey for 20 months with these people, I had to finally leave and what they did not accomplish with me in 20+ months, Dr. Marley at Windber Hospital did in 2 months.

First of all, the 'head' of Memorial Medical Center's weightloss center is a nurse. I called for information about the surgery. She told me to call back after I had completed a 6 month diet with my doctor~ then she just hung up on me in the middle of my questions. I understood she was probably busy, so I just went to my family doctor and I did a 6 month diet with him. We turned the information into this nurse and she rudely called back and said we didn't "do it" right and insisted we start all over again and do it all over again a certain way.

I understand the need to document this the proper way, but if she had answered my questions the first time and not pushed me off with a brisk, "I'm too busy to be bothered by you now" attitude, I wouldn't have wasted 6 months of my life.

So I did the diet again, for 6 more months (she continued to refuse to answer my questions until the diet was over with.) I kinda felt like I was in the twilight zone with this woman~ isn't it her JOB to answer my questions??? Anyway, I was still losing weight with my family doctor and I was so anxious to get the surgery, I didn't complain.

After the 12 months of dieting, she FINALLY allowed me to be scheduled for a seminar. I had to wait 2 months for the seminar. She was the only person at the seminar. After the seminar, I was scheduled for an appointment with Dr. Duke...TWO MONTHS later.

Finally, when I was two weeks away from my appointment with Dr. Duke, this nurse calls me and tells me she has to reschedule me and I can't get in to see the doctor for TWO MORE MONTHS. I ask her if she'll put me on a cancellation list as well incase she can get me in sooner. She was super sweet about it and was like, "Oh, yes, I'll definately do that because we feel soo bad that you've already been waiting for 2 months."

So, after a month of pacing by the phone, hoping I'll get a last minute cancellation phone call, I call this nurse and ask if she forsees any cancellations coming up soon. She actually LAUGHS at me and explains that the appointments have been double booked for months and I never had a chance at getting in on a cancellation appointment. The fact that she had lied to me a month earlier did not settle well with me.

Finally, my doctor's appointment arrived. The same nurse told me I didn't have any chance of getting my surgery approved by my insurance and that I shouldn't plan on having it, AND the fact that I asked what the chances were of me having the surgery in the next 4 months were because I was having a major event coming up, and she said it would NEVER happen.

I saw Dr. Duke. He was wonderful. I couldn't say enough positive things about him. He was very uplifting and honest with me. He ordered a few tests for me.

I had do some normal bloodwork and simple outpatient testing that week, and I had to be seen by the dietician, and the psychologist. I told both I'd take the "first available" appointments. It took me almost 2 more months to get appointments with them both!

After my testing was complete, I was scheduled for another appoitment with the surgeon~ another 2 month wait!!!! (If you're adding up the time here, you'll see it is significant. This is the norm for Memorial Hospital.)

After that doctor's appointment, my information was submitted to the insurance company. I was denied. Their denial letter was almost word for word the request of Dr. Duke's office. I was so confused~ until I learned that my information must have been mixed up with another patient in Dr. Duke's office. This is why my 'denial' didn't 'make sense.' It stated things about me that were simply not true at all. I tried so hard to get the nurse to have this information corrected and my REAL information submitted to the insurance company. She actually told me to just do 6 more months of dieting first! Are you kidding me? I had been on a continuous diet supervised by my doctor for almost 2 years at that point! I totally gave up with these people.

Then, I saw an advertisement for Dr. Marley in Windber. I contacted the office. I got into a seminar that week. There, I met the doctor, his entire team, and a post-op patient. They gathered my records for me and scheduled an appointment to see Dr. Marley. I got in to see him in 2 weeks! He re-ordered ALL of my testing plus a few more things and guess what? The psychiatrist, dietician and outpatient testing all happened within 2 weeks! They submitted all of my info to my insurance company and you know what? It was nearly 100% identical to what Memorial Medical Center had and my insurance approved it in 3 days!!!! I had my surgery in less than 2 weeks of that!

I didn't want to leave Memorial, but in the long run, if I had, it would have changed my life for the positive years sooner. My health drastically declined while I was with Memorial.

Dr. Marley and his entire team gave me the support I needed to make my dream come true. They're awesome!

Dr. Duke was wonderful I completely trusted him. Four years earlier he did a nisson on me so this had to be taken down before he could do the RNY. It made my surgery more complicated and risky, he had never taken one down before and told me I could go to Pittsburgh to have it done, but I trusted him. rnHe has wonderful bedside manner.rnI would highly reccomend him to anyone wanting this surgery.rnHis aftercare program is great and Benny and Pam are wonderful. They are so helpful and encouraging.rn

Dr Duke and his staff (Benny,Melissa and Pam)rnare the greatest.Dr Duke explained everythingrnin terms that you could understand,and if you didn't he would explain it again with more details. He told you the risk He talked about post op care.rnHis staff visited you while you where in the hospital and called you when you went home to see how everything was goingrnBenny and Pam was always there if you need to ask a question Just call them rnDr Duke is the greatest. I trust him so much that I sent my mother to him concerning another problem. I give him and his staff an A+,

I actually had his daughter, Darcy, for my appointments. She's also a surgeon in her father's office. She was wonderful !! Easy to talk with...right to the point. THe office staff is amazing..especially Bennie who has been a tremendous help throughout the past year. Aftercare is strongle recommended...they have a support group that meets once a month as well as a dietician who is available to us. Every aspect of the surgery was discussed in full and the risks were stressed as well as the benefits.

Comfortable, experienced.

It didn't



Top notch. Friendly

nothing

His is very fast working and helpful he likes to explain everything.
very much

yes

very well everything was explained.

8

Dr Duke is a wonderful doctor. He answered all my questions. He has a real good bed side manner. I would recomend him for anyone that want's a lifetime commentment in doing this kind of surgery. Thanks Doctor Duke for giving me back my life!!!!!!!!!
Tracey

I thought Dr. Duke was a good person who cares about those who are over weight HE really opened my eyes to a new world. My impression of him is a good one one of a caring and compassionater dr who is more than a dr but a person who cares.
His office staff the nurses and those who work in his office care also they treat me well when i am there and ask how you are doing and if they can be of any help.
I liked his bed side manner he came and talked with me and did not just push me aside he spent the time he needed answereing questions in the hosp and at his office.
He emphasizes aftercare very much he is there when you call him in his office or at him.
Yes he does have a good after care program he cares all the time and he and staff.
HE talked with me and my husband about the risks involved in the surgery and what it would mean to us but he also told us it would be a much better life for me.
I rate him as a no 1 dr over all he is a good man.
I think both are great I just want to thank dr duke and his staff for caring enough to help a person like me who could do no more to help themselves It is nice to know that there are people out there who care about us who are overwieight and do not cut us down but help us to get better .
thanks dr duke you and your staff are wonderful.
sharon

he is a very nice person who seems to take time for each person
it really has not changed i still like him
the office staff is nice and really seems to care if i call with a question they listen they always have
nothing i like everything so far about him
that he takes the time to talk with you and that he cares about each patient
im not sure yet i have not had my surgery but those who have had him say that dr duke really is good with after care
yes he comes himself and he also has a support group that will be there after the surgery to help you
yes he did and let nothing out he tells you like it is
i would rate him 100% a good dr
i believe it is both dr duke is there at both ends and he will be there when i need him

Dr. Duje has a terrific bedside manner. He shows real concern about all of my fears. He answers all my questions even when i bring out the dreaded folder of notes. I'm trying to be positive about everything and i can't wait till my surgury. The office staff was very helpfull and told me not to worry about being approved. He already told me that my success is up to me and how i follow the protocal and i told my husband that i was going to be a star paitent cause i want this so bad.He told me about all the risks and even though up to date he has only done about 10 laps i have all the confidence in him. He has been doing open surgury for bypass for over 15 years and just recently did a fellowship in Pittsburg for the lap. He is great as a sergeon and a person.

Dr. Duke was extremely professional and caring from our very first meeting. He did not make me feel like a freak or degrade me in anyway for being obese. Our very first meeting lasted at least 1 to 1 1/2 hours and he explained the different types of surgeries such as the difference between open and laproscopic, stapling and banding, etc. He emphasizes that surgery is not a miracle but a tool to be used for the weight loss. Although he is very thorough with the clinical aspects of the surgery and is sure that all of the necessary pre-testing is completed to his satisfaction including a psychological evaluation, I believe he should also require the potential candidate to attend at least one support meeting which is held at CVMH's new cafeteria every first Wednesday of the month from 6-8. Nobody knows exactly what to expect except for the people that have been through it and we become a close family and this group is imperative to pre as well as post-surgery. Dr. Duke's staff is also wonderful. They get so excited for you each time they see you and the weight you lost. I would trust my life a million times over in Dr. Duke's care. He is a wonderful surgeon. I hope he knows how many lives he has made worth living! I highly recommend him. Feel free to contact me with any further questions.