I can understand from reading the past reviews on this Gastroenterology business, how people may be upset or/and frustrated with not receiving a phone call back for scheduling etc. as I too encountered, in the beginning of this professional relationship, what "appeared" to be negligence on Modesto Gastroenterology Medical; Was NOT.
What I've learned since having 2 different surgical procedures with Dr. Elsaker, is that they are SUPER IN DEMAND...
Whether I am in-office for a follow-up or a telephone appointment (LOVE THIS OPTION) for a follow-up the staff are always moving & doing something that appears to be professional. I wondered in the beginning if I was selecting the right (best fits my needs) GI MD &/or Office & with time, I can confidently say I think I have. I have had appointments with "Eva" who is a Nurse Practitioner or RNP I believe, & those have gone well, for post-op and pre-op I think... Either way, she has helped me & not harmed me and for me, that's a must! :)
So far here's what I've had done/experienced with this business:
~ Colonoscopy & EGD with BIOPSIES. One suspicious area I understood was in my Cecum & that growth/item was biopsied returning "pre-cancerous". Then I had the EGD, where strictures in my Esophagus I believe? were "stretched" allowing me to swallow with or without food &/or liquid & NOT CHOKE OR ASPIRATATE. I had noticed about 3+ years ago that some of my pills got stuck in my throat and completely blocked the flow of even AIR to breath. That scared the heck out of me but because the insurance company I self-fund, continued to tell me conflicting information when I'd call to request an in-network physician they'd tell me during one call that the EGD isn't covered I believe it was, then they'd say on another inbound call that it was covered 100% (the procedure) and so on and so forth, equating to conflict & confusion, so that's what took me so long to make an appointment (for a total of around 2.5-3 years. I'm on a budget.
Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield was & still is on the hook for evading the hiring of professionally knowledgeable people to work for them. They have to be literate; no exceptions. I've been told more than once, that I'm speaking to people representing Blue Cross/ Blue Shield EPO, and that my inbound toll-free telephone call, is being answered in the Philippines mostly. I'm not against a person from the Philippines, because most are really intelligent & somewhat helpful, which I blame on the language barrier. They are mostly, friendly and UBER willing to go the extra distance to get your needs met. Score!
I'm still paying off the "out of pocket" expenses for last year's surgical outpatient procedures & getting ready to have yet another abdominal surgery to repair/fix/remove etc. what I'm told is a "serious medical condition" which is titled ParaEsophageal Hernia. I've been told I have had this for a while I believe they said, and my stomach has breached the diaphragm (needed for breathing) and is misplaced, pushing the stomach up and "into the diaphragm)". It can be really difficult to breathe and take in a deep breath especially when lying down to rest. I am ready for this procedure which will be done by another surgeon in Modesto and not Dr. Elsakr Magdy MD. Dr. Elsakr has been wonderful to me. I don't pick-up on bad vibes, knowing he now is aware that I live with Bipolar Type 1 diagnosed later in life, ADHD, Panic & Anxiety Conditions and I think there's one more dx but at this time I don't want to lose my momentum to think hard on it.
Dr. Elsakr, referred this next surgery I need, to Biatric Surgeons Dr. Coates and Dr. Antonio K Coirin, MD with Central California Surgery.
https://www.centralcaliforniasurgery.com/
My surgery is scheduled for this month on the 16th and I am really stoked for it. I just want to feel healthy and be healthy now, leaving behind the pain, anguish & regrets of living with this massive hernia. I want to be able to eat and drink without fear which I haven't experienced in years. That's how long it appears this thing has been with me. I gave up bulimia & anorexia in 1997 without looking-back. I was scheduled sooner but the surgeon Dr. Coirin had a "family emergency requiring the rescheduling of my much-needed hernia repair; from January to February 2024."
In closing here is what I like about the office of Dr. Magdy Elsakr:
~ Friendly yet uber busy; office personnel who return calls
~ Online patient portal allowing you to communicate with your medical provider via a built-in suite for requesting appointments & paying statements, viewing testing results, and more.
~ Appointments are easy to schedule with the employees here. They seem to delegate well which is a valuable asset in my experience.
~ Quick medication refills and new Rx's managed promptly and courteously.
~SUPER FRIENDLY SURGICAL Team! I was prepped and ready for surgery timely, and they kept to my appointment arrival time. Love this! :) read more