Need info on Dr. Scott Kozin

[luvmykidz]

We are thinking of seeing him for another opinion. What have your experiences been like with him and also the Shriners Hospital? I am open to ALL feedback. I want to know the good and I am also concerned if anyone has had a negative experience as I don't believe you can make a well informed decision without all the information. I have heard great things about him, I am looking for examples of bedside manner etc. Does he tend to be more proactive, or is he more conservative as far as surgical procedures go? Thanks in advance, this has been a very difficult decision to make.

[Tanya in NY]

Our personal experience started when I heard Scott speak at a sympsium at Shriner's while trying to learn more about BPI. I knew immediately that we had to switch our daughter's care to him. We did the initial visit and an MRI per his suggestion. He thought things looked good so far for our daughter who was about 1-1 1/2 years old at the time. Amber (our daughter) seemed to take right to him and I just had a (silly as it sounds) peaceful feeling at our first encounter as mother and doctor. At the second visit, we discussed Amber's MRI results which unfortunatley were not what I expected, so I started to cry. He was quite supportive and still quite honest about his opinion as to the course of care he thought we should take. My husband was not at the appointment, so he suggested that I talk with him, call him back or email, and even suggested a second opinion before deciding on surgery for Amber. Needless to say, it took us many months and a 2nd and 3rd opinion before we decided on surgery for Amber. We thought Scott was the best choice for what needed to be done because of his honesty, his up-front attitude, his gentleness with Amber, his quality staff, and his ease at answering my many, many, many questions (via phone, email, and in person). We had surgery in December 2004 when Amber had just turned 2 years old. He met us in the waiting room prior to surgery to speak again about the surgery and right after surgery met us in the same spot to tell us how it went. He gave us no false hope, but only facts with a smile. I amazingly was not very nervous when he left us in the waiting area to do surgery on Amber. That is how confident I was in his skills. Now, a little over 6 months later, Amber has made tremendous improvement. He was very pleased, as were we, with her progress at last month's check-up. His staff has always been superb and friendly. I have recommended him to many families. Here's something I have never heard of before (and I'm a nurse that works with doctors)...when Amber had surgery, it was a new practice that it was an outpatient procedure instead of an overnight one. We were to follow-up in the AM in the clinic. To make sure everything would be fine and to reassure us, he gave us his cell phone number to call him in case anything came up during the night at the hotel we were staying at. He knew that if we called the Shriner's hopsital number in the middle of the night with a concern, that their policy would be to go to Temple's emergency room. He didn't want us to have to do that unless it was necessary, so he offerred his number. I thought this showed dedication and committment to the children he cares for.

This is truly a very personal decision when figuring out which doctor to bring your child to. Good luck with that decision. I know we made the right decision for us.

Tanya in NY

[admin]

dr kozin was wonderful with my daughter and us as a family! he has a wonderful bedside manner to him. i felt so compfortable talking to him about anything i needed to talk to him about. where one surgeon is pushing surgery on my daughter, he said he wouldn't touch her at all. we had the best experience with him. i would suggest writing down any and all questions you or family/friends might have, he will spend the time with you and answer every question you have and will make sure you fully understand his answers. there is not one negative thing i can say about him what so ever! he is awesome!

[admin]

He really cares about the patient and has always answered every question--even when I am home and email him. He is so kind!

Therese PA