Helmut Schreiber Bariatric Surgeon M.D.,F.A.C.S.

I felt very safe and confident when I walked into his office, because he has done surgery on 1 of my best friends Mrs. Joyce Lochner and she is a really great person, she is now at her goal weight after two years. Plus I know of other acquaintances that I have met through Joyce that has had the surgery with Dr. Schreiber and Dr. Sonpal at St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Also Dr. Schreiber and Dr. Sonpal has had 24 years of Bariatric Surgery and over 700 cases. So I think that he is truely a pioneer in his field. Dr. Schreiber is very business like, he is very exact in telling you how he can help you, and what to expect with the new you. He answers all of your questions, and he does spend time with you until you are comfortable with the decisions being made. Dr. Schreiber and Dr. Sonpal have a "super-great office staff," anytime you call with a question, someone will answer it right away for you. And their offices are in a very large area, with allot of rooms. At the Hospital I like this allot that they have a "Batriatric Ward." where they are trained personnel to care for the obese patients. Also I like the fact that after your surgery, Dr. Schreiber has a long term plan that you must follow to have good results in the future. The only thing that I like to see in a Doctor is a little lighthearted and likes to joke now and then. Just not be so serious all of the time. I think from a patients point of view that it is very important that your Doctor tells you everything so that there is no suprises along the way. Also it is very important I think that your Doctor has a very good surgical competence and the most important to is great bedside manners, because you do look forward in seeing him while you are in the Hospital, and telling you that everything is going to be fine. You will see soon a brand new person emerging. And like what you see.

I started looking into this surgery about a year ago. Quickly found out that in Cleveland only two doctors do this surgery. Had thought about going outside of Cleveland but really wanted the surgeon "close to home" in case I had medical problems in the future, not related to the surgery, and he would need to counsel or be available quickly. Heart attacks. cancer all run in my family. Spoke to him and his staff (especially his nurse Karen) many times they were able to answer all my questions,including surgical risks, completely without being rushed. On October 14th I went in for pre-op and left with the greatest feeling. I had a great checkup, ekg, x-rays of the gallbladder, blood work, pulmonary tests. Afterwards a meeting with a doctor who took all the time I needed and answered any questions and addressed any concerns I still had. Dr. Schreiber's nurse "Julie" very friendly and extremely well informed spoke to us as to what to expect the day of surgery, hospital procedure, what to bring to the hospital and what to expect right after surgery. A dietician talked to the group regarding what to eat the day before the surgery and what you will eat while in the hospital. she also spoke of the diet during post-op. Even though their were not many pre-op patients there the day I was I enjoyed the discussion in a group setting because of the various questions. I really think highly of Dr. Schreiber he has been performing this surgery well over ten years. Unfortunately he does not do lap surgery only open. He does have a support group that meets once a month and his nurses participate.

Professional, well-informed





Very helpful and friendly





Great support groups and aftercare

yes

upfront

excellent

surgical competence

I only met Dr. Schreiber once, when he did the surgery on my sister Tina. He seems very careing and understanding of what we are up against in this fight of ours. I guess when I do talk to him I'll know more. I do know his office staff is very nice to talk to on the phone. I am making my Tuesday appt. in the next week or so as soon as I see my PCP.

I had to change surgeon's due to the fact of my insurance.
Dr. Schrieber is a very nice and caring man who is understanding what you
are going through. I am looking forward for him to do my surgery. The office staff
at Cleveland Center for Bariatrics is very nice and caring people.

I'VE ONLY MET WITH DR. SCHREIBER ONCE, ON MY INITIAL CONSULTATION. HE TOOK HIS TIME AND EXPLAINED ALL ASPECTS OF THE SURGERY AND WANTED TO BE SURE HE ANSWERED ANY QUESTIONS I HAD. HIS OFFICE STAFF HAS BEEN OK SO FAR, PLEASANT ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH. THEY JUST STARTED AN ANGEL PROGRAM WHICH I THINK IS A GREAT IDEA. IT'S A LIST OF PATIENTS WHO HAVE CONSENTED TO BEING CONTACTED WITH ANY QUESTIONS/CONCERNS THAT OTHER PATIENTS MAY HAVE. I HAVEN'T HAD SURGERY YET BUT I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE A GOOD AFTERCARE PROGRAM AND REALLY SEEM TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOW-UP EXAMS. THE ONLY NEGATIVE THING I COULD SAY AS OF YET IS THAT ONE OF THE NURSES WAS SUPPOSED TO PHONE ME AT A SPECIFIC TIME TO DISCUSS A CAT SCAN SHE WAS TO SCHEDULE FOR ME AND ONLY AFTER I HAD WAITED 6 HOURS PAST THE TIME SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL AND LEFT 2 MESSAGES FOR HER WAS MY CALL RETURNED-- NOT BY HER BUT BY ANOTHER NURSE. 6/20/00 BOTH DR SCHREIBER AND DR NICK VISITED ME DAILY IN THE HOSPITAL. DR SCHREIBER SEEMS LIKE A GOOD DR. HE'S DIRECT AND TO THE POINT. THOUGH BOTH SURGEONS OPERATE, I NEVER DID MEET DR SONPAL.

My first impression of Dr. Schreiber was that he was competent, confident, and extremely knowledgable in this field. Later I found out he is the Chief-of-Staff at St. Vincent Charity Hospital and this increased my trust in him. I felt very comfortable leaving myself in his hands. The office staff is truely great! Sondra is the best. She goes out of her way to find out what you need to know or to get the person you need to talk to. Sherry really goes the extra mile to fight your insurance for you. Karen and Julie are really great nurses. No question is too stupid or repetitive for them to answer. And Beth is a super Dietician. Dr. Schreiber came to see me all 4 days I was in the hospital. And he pulled no punched about the risks of this surgery. He was very up-front about it. Although right now I am only 1 week Post-Op they do have an extensive aftercare program. My first visit back is 6/13 to have my staples out. I was supposed to go on 6/15 and one of the nurses was going to take them out but Sondra called Friday AM and reschedualed because Dr. Schreiber wants to check up on me himself. Then I will go back at 3 weeks, then 6, then every 3 months until I reach my goal weight. They have support group meetings which I plan to go to, a clothing exchange, and they will give you a list of people in your area who have had the surgery and you can call them. On a scale of 1-10 I ghive Dr. Schreiber a 10. His surgical competence is unsurpassed adn his bedside mannor is very serious, professional. The only negative thing I have to say at the moment is this: Dr. Schreiber does all his surgeries with his associate Dr. Sonpal. During my consult, day of surgery, and 4 days in the hospital I never met Dr. Sonpal once. I wonder if he was really there or not, even though he got paid. I can't say this of all Dr. Schreiber's patients, I just know I have never met Dr. Sonpal.

Drs. Schreiber and Sonipal work together at the Cleveland Center for Bariatric treatment. The center is absolutely wonderful and I have only been there once! The staff is so considerate and caring about the patients and are super helpful.

They have lots of follow-up care programs in place, including dieticians, clothing exchange, group meetings, and support. I am very impressed with all they do for their patients. I am also impressed that the doctors always operate together on each patient. It is very reassuring that both of them will be there.

More info after surgery!

Dr Schreiber was all business, but very kind, and wanted me to do what I felt was best for me.
Since surgery and having seen him one time, he is still all business, but concerned that I follow the "program" for a healthier me.
The staff at his office has been a real God send to me. My first insurance company turned me down and they put up with me calling every day or every other day and never got tired of hearing from me (I don't think)
I really believe that Dr, Schreiber and the staff filled me in on all aspects of the surgery before we made the final decision. I am a question asker and I filled them with all the questions They may have forgotten.
All in all the whole experience for me has been a very good one.

he was very straightforward.he answered all of my and my husbands concerns.
I saw how professionally he acted with his patients. still straightforward-hides nothing
helpful

His straightforwardness can sometimes come across as blunt, but sometimes thats what you need. He is highly professional.

HIGHLY. if you dont have it done in his offices, you must promise your doctor will send the neccessaries. YES. every few weeks after surg then every 6mo. till goal then yearly. YES. all questions will be answered matter of factly with no soft touches. you know exactly what is happening.
scale of 1-10 I'd give him a 25
Surgical competence, but isnt that wat you'd like better from a man who is going to perform a major operation?