My conversation with Dr. Irgau - Adding to Cathy's Post

First of all! My BP was LOW!!!!! Yay! Apparently this is a ******g contest with Christiana Care. Christiana wants ALL of the Bariactric surgeries to be done at their hospital. Basically a monopoly. Irgau wants his patients to have a choice of where they want to go. He also said that there was a problem with PMRI not doing the work the way the Drs wanted it to be done. Christiana has cut the Chiras surgery schedule WAY back. Dr. Irgau believes that they are trying to force him to stop performing surgeries at St. Francis. Remember that Christiana Care is first and foremost a BUSINESS. No Different than say, Microsoft. This is their way of assuring future business. But they are forgetting that their business is the Patient. Nobody is comfortable with being forced to use someone's services. Dr. Irgau is fighting for our right to choose where we have our surgery. He assured me that the are still performing surgery at Christiana on THEIR schedule. He also said that he WILL NOT stop performing surgery at St. Francis. So either Christiana will back down and let Chrias work the way they want to work or they will recruit other surgeons to head up their bariactric program. All we can do is wait & see. I also was not thrilled with PMRI. The life skills classes were terriffic. But everything else was TOTALLY not worth the $1200 I paid. It would've been more beneficial to be to see my own Doctors for clearances and just done the life skills with them.

Hi Dineen! Thanks for the additional info. You'd think from a business standpoint, that Christiana Care would welcome CHRIAS doing all those bariatric surgeries. How many were they doing a day - 4 or more? That's big bucks for the hospital! What are they thinking? I think "big brother" is trying to micromanage the doctor's practices. It will blow up in their face, especially with St. Francis eager to pick up the extra $$. Thanks for Dr. Irgau and CHRIAS for standing up for us "little folk"!!!

Hi Dineen......Thanks for filling everyone in.....we all just want to know what is going on. Anyway, I am waiting for my first consultation with Dr. Wynn and I was wondering about the classes we have to take. Is this an out of pocket expense for everyone (do you know?) or does it just depend on your insureance????? I mean, there is no way that I could come up with $1200 dollars, like ever!!!! And another thing, are these classes just at night on week days or do they have weekend classes too? Thanks so much for the information and any response would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks so much.....shaughnessy

IF you want your surgery at Christiana, you have to go thru the PMRI's program. That means $1200 out of your pocket. You can get a breakdown of what this goes to and submit that to your insurance company, but most do not cover it. My BCBSDE PPO covered a portion of the Endincronlogist appointment, nothing else. The classes are 1 night a week and I do not know about weekend classes. St. Francis' program is much less expensive. I do not know the price or the requirments.

Dineen.....Thanks so much for getting back to me!!! Anyway, if the rumors are true, then Christiana wont be doing anymore surgeries after April. So, hopefully I can take the cheaper classes...but I wonder why insurance will not cover them....I mean, if it is mandatory to take the classes for the surgery, then you think that the insurance would pay! I dont know...hopefully I can get a new credit card or something by then. Thanks again for the information......take care.....shaughnessy

Just to dispel these rumors. Please read my other post about my conversation with Dr. Irgau. They will still be performing surgeries at Christiana. Christiana has cut back on their OR schedule. They will STILL be performing surgery after April 1st only on a more limited basis at Christiana. Please read mine & Cathy's posts regarding this. We have both spoken face to face with the Doctors.

Dineen......Oh, okay, I guess that I didnt understand what everyone was saying! But, if St. Francis is cheaper, then hopefully I will get to go there! Thanks again......shaughessy

I am going with St Francis. From what I understand the care if much better and the life skills classes are only $400.00. A major difference. That was a big reason I didn't go through with it last year. Apparently, after surgery at St Francis you go to the ICU floor and are monitored regularly whereas Christiana puts you on a regular floor. Looking for to joining the loosing side Kathy

I had my surgery at St. Francis and I can not say enough positive things about my experiences. Everyone is wonderful and paying $400 out of pocket as opposed to $1200 is even better

I am happy to hear tha CHRIAS is supporting the little guy and their right to choose. I have read quite a bit from all of you and it appears that St. Francis is the place to go for now. However I wonder as I get closer to the date if they won't change some of their costs and their big brother star****ching over all of us. Oh well a wait and see is the best at this time. One point of caution though. St. Francis is 400.00 but that does not include the Psych consult that most insurances are not covering. This means another $200.00 out of pocket. This of course is from what I understand.