Anyone Ever Attend Emory Support Group?

LaShelle2
on 12/3/08 5:12 am, edited 12/3/08 5:14 am - STOCKBRIDGE, GA

Was just checking out their website and it says you have to pay for thir support group. Is this true? What if you pay and you don't like the group, or you decide to have the surgery somewhere else. Why are they charging so much? Anybody have there surgery there that can give me some more details?

From Emory's website:

Meeting Schedule and Location

Meetings are held the second Monday of each month on the third floor of The Emory Clinic A, 1365 Clifton Road, NE, from 5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sessions will include such topics as "Meeting Protein Needs," "Recipe for Success," "Stress Management and Goal Setting," and "Relapse Prevention." Please note that the meeting time and location are subject to change.

Enrollment and Contact Details

To schedule an enrollment appointment with one of the center's financial counselors, please call 404-778-5673. At the appointment, a comprehensive contract with additional program details will be provided. The enrollment fee, which covers lifetime membership in the group, is $205 for Emory patients and $265 for non-Emory patients. Sessions may not be purchased individually.

               **** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured.                                    I  MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people.    ~Orson Wells

Roxy2974
on 12/3/08 5:18 am - Austell, GA

DS on 01/04/10

Wow.. I have never seen any other seminars charging a fee.
Hey LaShelle!!

talksoupslp
on 12/3/08 9:38 am

RNY on 05/06/09

That was one of the things that initially turned me off to Emory. I think the total was $600, not payable by insurance that they REQUIRED you pay before your surgery. I think it included 2, maybe 3 follow up sessions with the nutritionist and support groups for the rest of your life. They do not allow outsiders to attend their support group meetings.

Most of the other docs (I can't for sure say "all") do not charge for support groups and allow all to attend.

-Elli

Highest Weight/Surgery Weight/Current Weight/Goal
426.4/356/216.8/165?

LaShelle2
on 12/3/08 10:33 am - STOCKBRIDGE, GA

DS on 07/28/09

$600 is a lot considering the co-pay I'll have to pay with insurance. I guess it is worth it if they have really good surgeons. I'm interested to see why they charge so much though? Looking forward to their seminar on the 18th.

               **** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured.                                    I  MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people.    ~Orson Wells

Lookingup
on 12/7/08 1:34 pm - Sharpsburg, GA

DS on 10/23/08

I went to Emory's informational meeting on two occasions. I think what they are making reference to is those people who need to lose weight before they can have the surgery. It is a wholistic approach dealing with emotional and physical health as well as exercise. Most of those people will be on Optifast during that time too. I THINK that is why you pay for it.

Basically, I did not feel good about the Emory program. Their quagmire of paperwork before surgery is awful. I finally decided to just go on a weight loss plan with one of their physicians (who, by the way, was morbidly obese himself!) Naturally that didn't last long. I started gaining back the little bit of weight I had lost. Then, a few years later I decided to really go through with the surgery. I had to go to the seminar and all that paperwork all over again. spent months trying to get everything they wanted and finally after all that say the doctor who told me I could not have the surgery because I had previously had surgery for reflux. Thy only offered lap band and RNY. The doctor did not even tell me DS existed. Only by chance did I eventually meet a woman who told me about DS.....

Lookingup
Pre Weight Loss 337
Pre Op 319
DS Surgery Oct. 23, 2008

LaShelle2
on 12/8/08 12:07 am - STOCKBRIDGE, GA

DS on 07/28/09

thanks for ther info. Emory is not on the top of my list, but I think it's good to explore all your options, so I'm going to their seminar next week.. I would use them as a last resort if nothing else works out.

               **** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured.                                    I  MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people.    ~Orson Wells

Tsunami
on 12/9/08 7:04 am - Atlanta, GA

VSG on 11/04/08

I had my surgery at Emory Crawford Long. If you are using insurance they have a pretty streamlined process. Things are a little more complicated if you are self pay and want to coordinate the parts of the surgery that insurance will pay for. I've attended the support group meeting once and it is a really good group lead by a nutritionist. The distance & time of the meeting is a factor for me. They have an extensive support system to help you succeed and that's why I chose them to do my surgery. I had a VSG done there and have been pleased so far the results and the support system.

The support group fee is $600 but it is a lifetime membership. Don't pay the fee unless you are sure you are going to have surgery there. If I remember correctly I paid the support group fee when I did the pre-op testing so I was sure they would be doing my surgery.

LaShelle2
on 12/9/08 11:18 am - STOCKBRIDGE, GA

DS on 07/28/09

$600!!! Is that just for the support group? I was whining about $250. I didn't know they increased it.

               **** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured.                                    I  MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people.    ~Orson Wells

Tsunami
on 12/9/08 7:39 pm - Atlanta, GA

VSG on 11/04/08

They increased it because it's now a lifetime membership. The $200 fee was for two years only I think. I also think the increase was because it being lead by a nutritionist. It kind of feels like you have free access to a nutritionist for the rest of your life. If you want a one on one consult after you 3 included in your surgery you have to pay for it. But if you go to the support group meetings you can ask quick questions there.

LaShelle2
on 12/9/08 11:01 pm - STOCKBRIDGE, GA

DS on 07/28/09

Good info, thanks for the tip. Did your insurance cover any of the $600?

               **** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured.                                    I  MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people.    ~Orson Wells

Anyone Ever Attend Emory Support Group?

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Anyone Ever Attend Emory Support Group?