Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford-Bariatric Center's Online Review Report Card

Very kind, understanding, knowledgeable, helpful and mindful of what I needed and wanted

I love the bariatric center, they saved my life, I was having a lot of health problems and with the surgery now im doing much better and I feel wonderful

Very caring staff.

From tthhe moment I walked in the door I was greeted with a sincere smile. I was a tad bit nervous and they put my mind at ease devouring my anxiety of the visit. I only had to wait maybe 5 minutes before I was called back and again only had to wait 5 minutes until the doctor came into the room. She introduced herself to me and shook my hand. She went over what my options were as far as choosing the surgery that would better suit me and what I am wanting to accomplish. She went over all of my options very throughly ot leaving out any details. Once I advises her on what surgery would be best for me she let me know the ins and outs of the whole surgery from beginning to end. She also let me know the risks and the proper protocol for the surgery. With all of that being said, this office is awsome and I would recommend them to any and everybody that's even thinking about the surgery!!!!

Everyone was so nice, patient and knowledgeable. My experience was great!

The entire team at St. Thomas was very helpful and respectful. They care about you as a person. Melissa and Dr. Rich are both very good at explaining your path and make you feel better about yourself.

Ascensions Bariatric staff are the best! Dr rampp and staff treat you with kindness and respect.

Everyone has been very helpful, informative, and kind

Dr. Rich and staff are the best!!!

I began my journey with St. Thomas Bariatric Center in Murfreesboro with a phone call. I wasn’t sure what to expect because let’s be honest..when you call most doctors offices you’re met with a semi annoyed voice who is ready to get off the phone with you before they even answer your call. This was definitely not the case with St. Thomas Bariatric Murfreesboro. Leteta answered my call with a friendly, welcoming tone and an eagerness to get me started on my weight loss journey. She was very knowledgeable & extremely helpful. She told me the steps that I needed to take & that I could always call her back I needed help at any point. I immediately began the first steps familiarizing myself with both Dr. Stephen Rich & Dr. Westmoreland. Both are passionate about what they do & genuinely care about their patients. Ultimately, I chose Dr. Rich because I’d heard so many great things about him. I started the process & worked through the steps I needed to take pretty quickly. There are a couple of different steps for different insurance companies, but they’re pretty simple & easy to get done. Allison & Amanda were great with getting my paperwork submitted and answering all of my questions. My appointments with Melissa the nutritionist & Dr. Rich were very eye opening for me. Both made me feel comfortable & supported. The most important thing that resonated with me was that this was going to be a complete lifestyle change. The support groups are a great resource both before & after surgery.Before I knew it, I was approved for surgery & the ladies at the Bariatric Center were so happy for me. The one thing that I forgot to mention is that they’ve all gone through this process so when you call for advice..& you will.. they can speak from personal experience. Catherine, who leads the pre op class, has also had weight loss surgery and does an excellent job educating patients what to expect after surgery & on their pre & post op diets even providing recipes for great meal ideas. I have to say that my nerves were getting the best of me the night before & morning of my surgery. I mean this is major surgery. A significant portion of my stomach was being removed. My husband & children prayed with me before we left home. Once we arrived and were checked in I was still a bit nervous but my nurse was so upbeat & encouraging that I started to get excited. This was the beginning of a new life for me. Once Dr. Rich arrived & went over the game plan I was ready to go! I remember my husband kissing me & telling me he loves me. I remember being wheeled into the operating room & the anesthesiologist putting the mask over my face and that was it. I woke up in recovery with some pain but that’s to be expected. I got up & walked to the bathroom with assistance but went inside & used it on my own. Once a room was ready, I was moved & I remember being met by my husband with flowers & him telling me he was proud of me & he loves me. I was pretty out of it & nauseous which is also to be expected, but I was able to get up & go back & forth to the bathroom. By 6.30 am the next morning, I’d been up & showered on my own. Dr. Rich came by to check on me & asked if I needed to stay another day but I was ready to get home so he discharged me. I thanked him for helping to change my life. Leteta, from the Bariatric Center, also came by with a gift bag to check on me, congratulate me & let me know that she along with the other ladies at the Bariatric Center were always there if I needed anything. I got home & the first few days were a little rough but well worth it. The ladies at the Bariatric Center were there to answer EVERY question that I had, always with positive vibes & that’s the one thing that I want to emphasize. I NEVER felt/feel like a bother to them. They are ALWAYS eager to help and I am FOREVER grateful to them for all that they do to help me and others change/prolong their lives. I am one month post op &doing great. I’ve celebrated victories both weight & non scale & the ladies have been there to support & celebrate!