About - New Image Bariatric Surgical Associates

Our Mission Statement
Our Surgeon
Our Staff
Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center
Our Commitment to Safety
New Image Newsletters

Dr. Coon and the staff at New Image Bariatric Surgical Associates are pleased that you have chosen to consider us for your bariatric evaluation and possible surgery. We have an excellent weight loss surgery program and are confident that you will find us capable and caring.

At our practice, we strongly believe that education is key to deciding whether bariatric surgery is right for you. We advise all of our patients to talk to as many gastric bypass patients as possible and ask about their experiences. Our support group is an excellent venue in which to accomplish this. All prospective patients are welcome to attend at any time - no reservations necessary. In addition, potential bariatric surgery candidates are strongly advised to seek weight loss surgery reference materials.

We understand that the choice to undergo weight loss surgery involves a major decision; we also realize that the lifestyle adjustments that must be made after surgery can be trying, even to the most dedicated weight loss surgery patient. If you make the decision to undergo weight loss surgery with New Image Bariatric Surgical Associates, we will do our best to ensure that your surgery and recovery go as safely and smoothly as possible.

Our Mission Statement

New Image Bariatric Surgical Associates is dedicated to providing the best surgical care possible to help morbidly obese patients obtain health and longevity by freedom from the scourge of morbid obesity. We do this with enthusiasm, knowledge, attention to detail, and concern for our patients’ desires.

Our Surgeon

John L. Coon, MD, FACS

Dr. John L Coon, MD is fully certified by the American Board of Surgery and recognized as a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons. He graduated from the University of Illinois School of Medicine in 1968 and completed an Internship at the Saginaw Affiliated Hospitals in 1969. He then served two years as a medical officer in the U.S. Army before completing a surgery residency at the University of New Mexico in 1975 and taking a position as Assistant Director of the University of Southern California Burn Unit for one year. Dr. Coon then entered private practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico and was a Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of New Mexico. In 1994, he and his wife Mary moved to Lake County, Montana to practice surgery and to open programs in laparoscopic surgery and gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Dr. Coon became very interested in obesity surgery in 2000, when he attended a course on bariatrics at the University of Texas in Dallas. In 2002, after substantial effort, he convinced the hospitals where he practiced in Montana to allow him to perform obesity operations. After performing a few cases, Dr. Coon realized that he needed a larger medical center. He also came to believe that anyone performing weight loss surgery should do so full time and not as part of a general surgery practice. As such, Dr. Coon began looking for a new place to practice where he could perform bariatric surgery exclusively. After looking at several opportunities, he chose his current practice in Riverside.

Dr. Coon began practicing in Riverside on January 5, 2004 and treated his first year like a fellowship. He accompanied his colleague on daily rounds, assisted him with bariatric operations, and saw almost all of his patients. During this year of practice, Dr. Coon gained considerable experience in performing obesity surgery. This fellowship, coupled with his substantial background in general surgery and advanced laparoscopic surgery, afforded him the extra experience necessary to practice laparoscopic, open, and revisional bariatric surgery.

Our Staff

The staff at New Image Bariatric helps to keep our office running smoothly and ensures that our patients are as comfortable as possible. When you visit our office, the first person you meet will likely be our front desk person, Teri. We depend on Teri to start your appointment with efficiency, attention, and consideration. Evelyn, another member of our team, is responsible for getting the insurance approvals our patients need. Evelyn works with your insurance to be sure all criteria are met so that any needed authorization from your insurance plan can be obtained for weight loss surgery. Evelyn is also available to discuss and assist patients who wish to apply for health care financing. You will meet Danielle and Linda, our office nursing staff. They help you with your pre-operative visits and also with any surgical problem you may have after surgery. Danielle and Linda assist the surgeon with actual hand-on activities in the examining room and handle some of the phone calls and the prescription refill requests. Olivia is our Program Coordinator. She is concerned with such areas as practice efficiency, office policies and protocol that are necessary for our Center of Excellence designation and patient satisfaction. Olivia has extensive experience in these areas and brings energy and expertise to our practice. As Program Coordinator, Olivia, is also involved with our Support Group. Joy and Laura are the dietitians who provide the nutritional evaluations required by some insurance plans. You will meet them at one of the pre-op teaching sessions we offer. Joy and Laura are available for nutritional counseling before and after surgery. Mary is our Web Site and Patient Coordinator and responsible for practice marketing. She is the first person to whom you will speak when you call New Image Bariatric from our toll free number of 866-374-9150. Mary will answer your questions regarding our program and assist you in scheduling a consultation. She is the editor of our newsletter New Image News.

Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center

Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center provides the hospital services and considerable outpatient support services to our bariatric surgery patients. The following are some of the people who are dedicated to making your surgery experience as comfortable and productive as possible.

The Nursing Staff on the third floor consists of nurses that are supportive of the bariatric patient, have special experience in the post op care of the bariatric patient, and are interested in providing the superb care that bariatric patients require.

Tess is Director of Nursing at Parkview Community Hospital. Under her direction Steve, an RN, is the supervisor of the third floor, which is dedicated to the care of the surgical and bariatric patient, both before and after surgery. Because of their attention we have the best nursing staff and hospital care one can imagine for our bariatric patients.

Chaplain Paul is the hospital chaplain who provides the extra emotional and spiritual support that helps maintain ones enthusiasm to recover in spite of just having had an operation. He is a high energy, optimistic person and is always ready to help.

Marlene Burnette is the Assistant Administrator who is responsible for the hospital part of the Program. She is a significant “mover and shaker” and has done wonders for the Program. If you have any particular praises or complaints about your hospital stay, she is the person to contact.

Joy and Laura are the dietitians that work so hard at making sure you have foods that are conducive to your recovery, consistent with the goal of losing weight and yet maintaining adequate nutrition - no easy task. You will meet them first at one of the pre op teaching sessions.

Melody is in charge of case management. That is “hospital talk” for the person who arranges things with your insurance company so that you can get the services that we order and you need.

Darlene is the Director of Surgical Services. While you will probably not actually see her, she has put together a superb surgical service. She is assisted in this endeavor by a rather close knit group of surgical staff that wants to provide you with the best surgical experience possible. Because of all of these dedicated people, your operation will be a model of care and attention to detail.

X-ray and ICU are two departments that have made positive contributions to the Bariatric Program. In addition to the rest of the hospital, these units have “stepped up to the plate” in order to provide the extra care and consideration you deserve.

Our Commitment to Safety

Certification by the American Board of Surgery

Board Certification is an effort by reputable surgeons to demonstrate to their patients that they have the qualifications and ethics needed to perform surgery to the highest standards. Not every surgeon can pass the extensive examination and review process that Certification requires.

Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons

Following Board Certification, a surgeon must practice two years and then have this experience reviewed by his or her peers. If a surgeon’s morals, work ethic, and surgical results are satisfactory, then he or she is admitted as a “Fellow in the American College of Surgeons” (FACS). This is the most important surgical society in the world and those who belong to it have passed a very rigorous process.

Accreditation by the Joint Committee of Accreditation of Hospital Organizations (JCAHO)

The JCAHO is the main review organization in the United States responsible for overseeing and approving private hospitals. The review process that a JCAHO-approved hospital undergoes every two to three years is exhaustive. The value to patients is that they can be assured that the hospital practices with the highest regard for patient safety, medical and surgical outcomes, and ethics. As you might imagine, Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center is certified by the JCAHO.

For more information about New Image Bariatric Surgical Associates, please contact our practice today.

New Image Newsletters

2008 New Image Newsletters

January - February 2008 - Vol. 3, Issue 1

2007 New Image Newsletters