"When I initially went to Dr. Barker's office, I was overwhelmed at how many people where in his office. It was packed! Some people who have had WLS from other doctors told me that I'd be treated like a number if I became one of Dr. Barker's patients. Nothing could have been further from the truth. rnrnEveryone at Dr. Barker's office took their time explaining things, listened to me attentively, and showed sincere and genuine concern for me. Dr. Barker was wonderful and nothing like what the \"naysayers\" told me. He took the time to answer all of my questions and ensure I felt comfortable with all of the information I had received. Expectations were explained as well as the risks. Dr. Barker and his staff are wonderful and made me feel very comfortable and even more confident about my decision to have gastric bypass surgery. rnrnMy experience was positive BUT, I want prospective patients to know that no matter which surgeon you chose, you are responsible for ensuring all insurance details are taken care of. No one will do it for you. Dr. Barker's staff was always available to answer questions but I did a lot of communicating between my insurance company and the billing office to ensure things were taken care of. YOU, as the patient, must follow up and take the initiative when you have questions about insurance, diet, etc. The professionals at Dr. Barker's office are available and I never had to wait for an answer. I couldn't have chosen better professionals for my procedure.rnrnI'm looking forward to my aftercare follow up visits. I would rank Dr. Barker and his staff #1. They are definitely TOP NOTCH!! Forest Park Medical Center is also AWESOME! The facility is beautiful, my family indicated that the cafeteria was great, and my private room was better than I ever expected. "
