Nathan R. Bates's Online Review Report Card

This is a mixed review, and I guess it depends on your personal expectations. Dr. Bates and his team are excellent at conducting advanced robotic surgery. He came highly recommended as one of the best surgeons in northern Florida for this type of procedure. In my case it was to remove my right lower lobe in my lung for a cancerous tumor and pull out lymph nodes for staging. The surgery and the hospital stay went well. However, Dr. Bates isn’t an overly communicative guy, so if you’re expecting a doctor to spend more than 5 minutes with you, be forewarned. Moreover, his staff was uncooperative and rude when I was trying to hear or receive biopsy results. Dr. Bates said he’d have results within a week after my surgery, but his staff seemed to think it was okay for me to wait almost a month to hear the results when I starting calling 8 days after my surgery. First, they said he was on vacation and they couldn’t give the results out. Nothing more. Then when I called after he returned from vacation they said he’s busy, but you can come up here (50 miles away) and get a copy, but we won’t send them to you. Why didn’t they tell me this a week earlier? As it turns out they’d already sent the results to my GP, 3 miles away 10 days before this, but didn’t bother to tell me that either and I only found out when I looked at the report. I could have had the results much earlier with no skin off their nose. I understand they’re busy, but so am I, and my time should be equally valuable as theirs. Their attitude sucks and I would have expected more compassion and cooperation when dealing with a lung cancer patient. I had my follow up with Dr. Bates PA Craig three weeks after the surgery. I had a decent sized lump/swelling near one of the surgical sites, and when I asked about it he said “Hum, that’s odd. Wait a month and if it doesn’t go down we’ll need to do some tests”. I had the tests done via MD Anderson since I’m seeing them now, and as it turns out they broke two ribs during my surgery. Keep in mind Craig was looking (or supposed to be) at chest Xrays I had handed to them for my appointment. Not sure how this was missed, and granted there’s not much that can be done, but it would have been helpful to know I had two broken ribs and reassurance that was “all” that was going on. A bit more care and a few more minutes for the follow up should have clarified this, but instead I had to wait another month and a different organization for answers.

I have had surgery twice with Dr. Bates. Once for a pulmonary wedge for lung cancer and once for implantation of a port for chemotherapy. He is meticulous, thorough, and considerate of his patients. Dr. Bates and his staff are the best.

If it wasn't for him, my guy would never had made it through.He and his staff are the best!!

Absolutely no nonsense, down to business all the way. Very capable resulting in a wonderful outcome.

Office front desk staff is unprrofessional and disrespectful. Doctor is unapproachable with issues that evolved after surgery. He was rude to my son when we inquired about a solution to the botched surgery he did. Dr. Nathan Bates performed and unnecessary surger on my son to collect from the insurance company. He will not allow us to have a conference to ease the situation. My son will never be the same. Do not allow this doctor to treat you or your family.