Des Moines area - Mercy or Dr. Eibes?

What are your experiences with both clinics from the get-go on WLS?? I had a regular doctor's appointment this morning for my annual exam and to talk to her about what seems to be a heel spur, and about my decision to pursue WLS. My doctor is completely behind it!! She also thinks I have the medical history to be approved without a new supervised diet, esp since the insurance told me that is a guideline and depending on history, it may not be necessary. I have BC/BS of Minnesota insurance, and it's pretty good.  I called Mercy, and their next meeting is Thursday, June 28. I am registered for Dr. Eibes' office's meeting on July 13. My doctor wants me to go to both, but she really wants me to do the Mercy program. Of course, they are at a Mercy Clinic (the Urbandale one on 86th). I told her that one factor for me is that I have this great insurance and want to use it as much as I can, but I won't be in my job forever. When my husband finishes his grad program and starts teaching within the next year, I will likely leave my job not long after.

If what I read here is true, that the Mercy program has lots more time-consuming hoops, then I'd rather see what Dr. Eibes timeline looks like for me. I know it's different for each case no matter what, of course.

I am scheduled for the Lap Band with Dr. Eibes on July 16th. This is what he requires:  you must attend a seminar, attend an informational meeting, have a psych eval, have a consulation with Dr. Eibes, have a consulation with the dietician in his office, and obtain diet history notes from primary care provider or letter of necessity from primary care provider.  These must all be completed before the team is able to approve you for surgery. Here is a list of items that must be completed before surgery:  attend a support group meeting (they meet the first Saturday of every month), cardiac clearance (stress test) if requested by Dr. Eibes, and a history and physical with primary care provider within 30 days of surgery. I attended the seminar the end of November and everything went so smoothly and fast and then my pcp did not provide the requested info to BC/BS and I was denied in March (that's a whole other story....lol).  I was finally approved at the end of May for the surgery thanks to my persistence and a letter from Dr. Eibes to the insurance company.  I met with Dr. Eibes on 06-07-07 and set my date for 07-16-07 for surgery. If it weren't for the denial the first time things were submitted, I would have already had the surgery by now.  Even still, I know some others who have had to go through numerous denials and waited a year or more for surgery - God bless them, I don't know that I would have that kind of patience....lol Let me know what you decide!!  Either way, I wish you the best of luck!! JoDee :wave: I just can't say enough good things about Dr. Eibes and his staff and their program - it is a full service, one stop shopping with all the professionals on his team.

Thank you so much for your lengthy reply! This is exactly what I want to hear. I know that the Mercy program is a Blue Center of Excellence, but the insurance contact said that isn't necessary, that Dr. Eibes is a PPO provider.  My understanding from the contact at Mercy is that you go to their meeting, next is June 28, fill out a questionnaire, then they contact you for a consult. The next seminar with Dr. Eibes office is July 13.

What was the info your PCP didn't provide, if you don't mind saying?

Thanks!!!

I specifically told my PCP I needed 2-3 year's worth of case notes and they sent 6 months worth!  When I tried to call back after I had talked to BC/BS and tell the nurse that, she was very rude and said Dr. Eibes should know exactly what was needed, blah blah blah.  I tried telling her that was all that I needed and we could resubmit as additional information, rather than appeal.  She just kept it up.  I finally hung up on her.  I called back and had to make an appt to see the dr.  But when I did get in to see him a week or so later, he was a complete A$$ and said he needed something in writing from BC/BS so he would know exactly what was needed.  Even though I told him I had talked with BC/BS and knew what was needed, that was not good enough!  I was so mad I cried!!  BC/BS was very helpful and got the info out to him right away.  I tried to be patient and wait for the info to come from my pcp.  When I gave him almost 2 weeks to get me the info and I got nothing, I just called and told the nurse that I wanted copies of the last 3 years of my case notes and I would be in to pick them up that night after work.  She said sure, no problem!  What the heck?!?!  That's all I wanted to begin with.....lol.   I faxed the case notes to Dr. Eibes' office and he wrote a letter (he has been awesome to work with) to BC/BS and I had my approval in no time!!   By the way, Des Moines Bariatrics is with Iowa Health and they are in the process of becoming a Center of Excellence.  When I first started my research on the Lap Band back in November, there were only two doctors that were certified in the state of Iowa - Dr. Eibes and someone from Fort Dodge (that is what was found on the Lap Band website where you can search for a doctor certified in lap bands).  That is how I came upon Dr. Eibes. I am so glad I could be of some help to you!   Let me know how things go!! JoDee :wave:

Did Dr Eibes suggest wish surgery he thought would be the best for you? I'm still debating on which one to go with.

I am currently going through the Mercy program.  I have already been approved for surgery I am just putting it off for money reason.  But I will say that there is a lot of things they require you to do including paying $250 for educational classes that are not covered by insurance.  They also require you to have two months worth of your protein and vitamins before you have surgery.  They actually require you to show receipts.  But, they are a center of excellence by my insurance which is BCBS of Iowa.  I felt a little irritated at first by all of the things that were required but I just look at it as it is for my best interest.  I know a lot of people at my job that have gone to Dr. Eibes (maybe because there are less requirements before surgery) and they all think he was a great doctor.  I thought about changing to him but I was too far into it.  And now I feel like I made a good decision to stay with Mercy.  It seems that they really care about your success and follow up with you closely.  That makes me feel safer about having it done.l

I was going to go there, went through the education classes and everything.  My husband and are were very turned off by the nurse Susan who is the coordinator of the program there (not sure if she still is) she was so dang hateful.  Me being a nurse, it made me just ILL to see her treat others that way including myself when I was in a chair as a patient.  I hope she has changed her ways, shes  the reason I left there and went with Dr. Glas**** of Cedar Falls.  LOVE those guys there, nothing but a positive experience since.  I am 6 months postop.  Glad it is working out for you though.. she was a pill.

Are you sure it was Susan? The nurse that in charge of the program is named Patty and yes she is not a very nice person. The others are very nice and supportive though. Patty really doesn't deal with patients if any at all. Sorry you had a bad experience. I will have my 4 year anniversary on Monday and Mercy is the place where I had my surgery. I really liked the program as they are several requirements however, I felt very safe knowing that they were watching out for me. Stephanie

I remember Patty too but this was definently a Susan, blonde headed nurse.. glad your experience was a good one, that is all that matters.

I am so sorry that you didn't get good treatment there. Susan started shortly after I had my surgery. There was another nurse there named Denise and she was AWESOME!!! I miss her being there so much I can't hardly stand it. I am glad that you were able to find another place that you were happy with. Stephanie