I had started with Albany Medical Center's bariatric program, because I knew I wanted Dr. Singh to do my gastric bypass surgery, and thought I had no choice. I was unhappy in that program for several reasons: I did not like my nutrition M.D. (Dr. Alger), the support group was so big that it wasn't very personal, and the front desk staff were unfriendly and you felt like a "number." Altogether the program did not feel very supportive or patient-centered. Then I got word that St. Peter's was opening up their own, smaller, bariatric clinic, but you still had the same choices of doctors and could still have your surgery at Albany Med (that was important to me). I checked them out and was VERY impressed with their entire program. The support group is much smaller, and very friendly and supportive. The M.D.'s all seem to be personable and concerned about each individual patient's progress, without being at all condescending like at AMC. I was still able to have Dr. Singh do the surgery at Albany Med, but felt like I was in a program that was much more patient-centered (and I have never felt like just a number there).
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