Georgia Coast Surgical e-Newsletter Memorial Day 2010

We’ve made some changes here at Georgia Coast Surgical. Dr. Henderson has moved to Raleigh, North Carolina to practice, but I’m still here. I’m making my way around to talk to all of our support groups and will finish my first round by the end of June. I appreciate the support that all of you have shown for us here at GCS. It’s my intention to be here to care for all of our patients for the foreseeable future. We’re still seeing patients in the office and I’m still operating. Please keep referring those patients who need our services; that’s what will keep us going and improve our practice. I know this is a short newsletter, but I think this is how I’ll start out communicating with everyone. Later we plan to do a Facebook page and maybe even do some other social media. I’ll need a consult from my teenager. . .

            We’re negotiating with the hospital regarding the renewal of the Center of Excellence status. I certainly believe it’s something our patients deserve. While we’ve been through some distractions in the practice in the last year or so, I believe we can come out of this stronger than ever. We’re now united under one philosophy of how we should do things and we appreciate your input on how we can improve service to our patients.

            I know you’re interested in the annual Celebration which we’ve traditionally held the first weekend of October. We’ll need some help from some key players for this, but we’re planning to continue this event. After the wonderful Spring Fling that our patients organized a couple of months ago, I know that we can throw a party. Our friends at Allergan are also willing to help us with the program.

            I’m now the only fully qualified bariatric surgeon on staff here and I need your help to make sure you get the care you deserve. If you have a problem—abdominal pain, vomiting, heartburn, reflux, coughing, pain, etc.—let us know right away. Don’t wait to see if your symptoms will improve. I will need to be out of town at times and I will arrange appropriate coverage. Like last weekend when Ginger carried my pager to be available to answer questions and do deadjustments while the other surgical group covered my post op appendectomy patients in the hospital. For problems with bariatric patients beyond the care available here, Dr. Whipple in Savannah kindly agreed to cover me. We will probably use the same arrangement in the future when I have to be out of town. Calling the hospital operator and paging my pager should be your first move if you have a problem or a question. Also, don’t just go to an ER—call us first. I don’t want to work Dr. Whipple too hard, and if I know you’re having an issue several days before I leave, I can usually make arrangements to care for you myself. Don’t wait to call.

            Last, but not least, we have a new bariatric coordinator who is very well qualified for the job and I’ll plan to introduce her in the next newsletter.   Thanks, HLK