John A. Procaccino, MD

Description

John Procaccino, MD, is the director of North Shore University Hospital’s division of colon and rectal surgery. He completed his residency at North Shore University Hospital and his fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Procaccino has continuously been named one of the nation’s top doctors and has been a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for more than twenty years. Dr. Procaccino treats a spectrum of conditions, from minor anal rectal issues to major intrabdominal conditions. Among these conditions are colon and rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis), hemorrhoids and diverticulitis. He performs both laparoscopic and open surgery. Dr. Procaccino is excited about minimally invasive innovations in surgery, and new, robust clinical pathways that enable a patient to spend less time in the hospital after major surgeries. Seventy percent of his patients with major bowel resections can go home within 2-3 days, thanks to state-of-the-art enhanced recovery protocols. Taking a multidisciplinary approach to colorectal care, Dr. Procaccino leans on his team of radiologists, pathologists, oncologists and more to treat and assess each patient’s condition with an individualized strategy. And when he creates a care plan for each patient, he takes the time to ensure they understand and retain crucial information, using easy-to-grasp diagrams and analogies to help. “It’s my goal to make sure each patient understands the problem, the plan and the approach, ” he says. “And that they know our team is with them every step of the way.” From the moment a patient calls his office, Dr. Procaccino makes sure their time and energy are respected. As a rule, a human always answers the phone. “From the minute an encounter takes place, we want a patient to feel as though we’re putting arms around them and helping them through what may be very difficult for them.” Dr. Procaccino takes deep pride in his humanistic approach to clinical care. “If you treat someone with sincerity, they can sense it immediately, ” he says. For this reason, Dr. Procaccino treats every patient like family, and stops at nothing to ensure they feel comfortable and confident under his care at every step of their journey together.