Information Needed on Nerve Sparing Da Vinci Surgeons

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  • Feb2010
    Feb2010 Member Posts: 51

    FEB 2010
    I'll jump in here since I know the answer. Randy's surgeon was Dr. Hollensbe in Greenwood, Indiana, near Indianapolis. My husband saw his partner, Dr. John Scott. The two do the surgeries together. Dr. Scott has done 1300 procedures. I know Holensbe has done over 1000, not sure of the actual number on him. My husband will have his surgery 4/27. They do the surgery at Clarian North, in Carmel, Indiana, just north of Indianapolis. They have the same team that does all the surgeries and it is a smooth deal from admission to discharge.
    Let me know if you have any more questions.

    Thanks Mrs.
    Thanks Randy.
    I

    Thanks Mrs.
    Thanks Randy.
    I live in Va Beach,the proximity of the treatment center was also considered. I have narrowed it down to Dr. Samadi/Mt. Sinai, NY; Dr. Patel, FL; and Dr. Shah, GA. They all accept TRICARE which is nice. Navy doctors/surgeons are great, but I don't think they could match the "numbers"-experience correlation offered by these three prominent surgeons in their field. I'm worried about air travel after surgery. Maybe I should stay close by until the cath is removed (thinking out loud), hmm. What's the average number of days before cath is removed,7-10 days? I would rather recuperate at home though. We'll see...
  • Speed
    Speed Member Posts: 3
    In Upstate NY
    Dr. Jean Joseph at Strong Medical in Rochester, NY is one of the most experienced. He did mine and I had excellent results.
  • randy_in_indy
    randy_in_indy Member Posts: 496 Member
    Feb2010 said:

    Thanks Mrs.
    Thanks Randy.
    I

    Thanks Mrs.
    Thanks Randy.
    I live in Va Beach,the proximity of the treatment center was also considered. I have narrowed it down to Dr. Samadi/Mt. Sinai, NY; Dr. Patel, FL; and Dr. Shah, GA. They all accept TRICARE which is nice. Navy doctors/surgeons are great, but I don't think they could match the "numbers"-experience correlation offered by these three prominent surgeons in their field. I'm worried about air travel after surgery. Maybe I should stay close by until the cath is removed (thinking out loud), hmm. What's the average number of days before cath is removed,7-10 days? I would rather recuperate at home though. We'll see...

    Feb - Flying is really not too much an issue
    BD Hilton did it from Chicago to Atlanta I believe and could tell you how it went...and that was after Open...not Da Vinci...which is pretty safe to say is less an issue in comparison.
  • ballab11
    ballab11 Member Posts: 9

    Where Are You From
    Zakpaga - do you currently reside in New York? I live down in Virginia...I'd like to hear your feedback (if you reside out of the NY locale...) on how your travel arrangement, hospital stay, etc., all occurred. He sounds like an outstanding oncologist.

    Dr. Samadi
    I too just had my surgery with Dr. Samadi and live just outside of NYC. About a 45 min drive. He is a true gem. Not only he, but his entire clinical staff and the staff at Mount Sinai. I mentioned to one of the hospital staff how nice everyone was and how much it helped my stay. Her answer was, "Dr. Samadi demands it!"

    Although they have the private room for $525 a night, they let me wife sleep in a chair next to my bed. My suregery was scheduled for 4PM..arrived at 2PM. As things go I didn't get in the OR until 5:45. I was out by 7:30.

    There are hotels nearby the hospital, but the catheter removal is in Dr. Samadi's office on Madison Avenue. About 40 blocks south of the hospital. I made sure to call his office at 9:01 the next day to schedule the cather removal as Dr. Samadi does 3 -4 procedures a day and I wanted in there first. I had a 10 AM appointment, got there early and Helen, his office nurse took me at 9:45.

    No matter who you choose as your surgeon, go to Smadi's site and use all of the patient information and instructions. They are invaluable!


    Good luck

    Bruce
  • Olee
    Olee Member Posts: 97
    Speed said:

    In Upstate NY
    Dr. Jean Joseph at Strong Medical in Rochester, NY is one of the most experienced. He did mine and I had excellent results.

    Dr. Scott Miller Atlanta
    Dr. Scott Miller at Northside Hospital in Atlanta performed my surgery. He was one of the pioneers in Da Vinci surgery in the state of Georgia. He not only performs the procedure but actually teaches as well. His surgical expertise combined with his personality,being a strong family man who showed concern for my wife and family, and an awesome staff made him the only choice. I would recommend him to anyone who is seeking robotic surgery.
  • chitown
    chitown Member Posts: 90 Member
    Olee said:

    Dr. Scott Miller Atlanta
    Dr. Scott Miller at Northside Hospital in Atlanta performed my surgery. He was one of the pioneers in Da Vinci surgery in the state of Georgia. He not only performs the procedure but actually teaches as well. His surgical expertise combined with his personality,being a strong family man who showed concern for my wife and family, and an awesome staff made him the only choice. I would recommend him to anyone who is seeking robotic surgery.

    Who else did you consider?
    I am atlanta based too and planning a surgery later this summer. Does Scott Miller take insurance or he is cash based only.
  • chitown
    chitown Member Posts: 90 Member
    bdhilton said:

    Dr. Shah Atlanta
    Check him out...director of Robotics St Joseph Hospital...did a friend of mine 2 years ago and it was on CNN..goggle it and goggle him...he does not advertise his skill (he does not need too)...Best of luck

    Can you provide more info..thx
    Will greatly appreciate any details. He is one of the surgeons I am evaluating for myself
  • bdhilton
    bdhilton Member Posts: 846 Member
    chitown said:

    Who else did you consider?
    I am atlanta based too and planning a surgery later this summer. Does Scott Miller take insurance or he is cash based only.

    For robotics I would suggest
    For robotics I would suggest Shah out of St Joe or Miller out of Northside. If you do the open procedure I would be going to Emory...all take at least BCBS
  • txbarton
    txbarton Member Posts: 89 Member
    Tricare
    You mentioned Tricare. My surgeon was Randy Fagin, he takes Tricare and is in Autin, Texas. http://www.prostatecenterofaustin.com/ Randy is in the top 7 in the world for daVinci experience (the manufacturer's evaluation, not his). he just took a position as Senior Medical Advisor - Training for Intuitive Surgical, the daVinci robot manufacturer and has cut back his surgical hours so may be a little difficult to get.

    Tricare means you are a vet. If you are a Viet Nam era vet you should check out: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/Herbicide/AOno1.htm. VA acknowledges service in or over Viet Nam as exposure to Agent Orange and entitles you to 100% service connected and combat related disability.

    Good luck.

    VB
  • Olee
    Olee Member Posts: 97
    chitown said:

    Who else did you consider?
    I am atlanta based too and planning a surgery later this summer. Does Scott Miller take insurance or he is cash based only.

    He does take insurance, but
    He does take insurance, but I know for my insurance company he was out of network, even though they are a major group. It meant extra out of pocket, but I was willing to work that out for the expertise. A consult or phone call can tell you more, his staff contacted me back quickly.