WLS Out of Province programs, referral info

For all those who just don't know where to begin looking for out of province WLS. I have provided some info to get you started in the right direction with the links below and listed some program requirements info too.

For majority of current WLS programs these are the usual requirements:
1. Nutrititional education, either a specialized program or meetings with a Dietitan
2. Pyschological assessment
3. Daily Food Journalling 
4. Exercise & daily activity tracking, walking daily using a pedometer is normally expected

**You will notice I did NOT list anything from the eastern provinces or from ONTARIO. They are currently not an viable WLS option due to either prohibitive waitlists or not accepting patients. In case you were not aware of it, the province of Ontario outright cancelled all incoming out of province referrals for WLS a few years ago. I know several people whom were unfortunately part of the cancellations. So if someone here on OH is aware of a recent change to Ontario's OP WLS policy to which they do permit it now, please do speak up.** 

Here's a copy of my reply I posted earlier in another thread as it has it all listed...

"Repectfully to all I say that anything involving your own health, you should be willing to accept the responsibilty and become your own advocate. In my experience I've found not many GP's are well versed in WLS so doing the research on it I brought forth valuable info to my GP which they did not know.
As for Out of province surgery, you will require prior approval from MB health to attend each & any bariatric appointments out of province including the surgery. Should you fail to do so you could and likely will be billed directly with no grounds to appeal. Getting MB health's approval is not too difficult to obtain, it takes planning ahead. First, before you ask for approval you need to decide on a program. Yes, your GP can send multi referrals out to the different WLS programs. Be warned once you've chosen a program and attending, its a challenge to switch if you change you mind because you don't like waitlist or the requirements.

Below are links to a few programs and info for Mb health out of province claims...
 
http://www.victoriabariatricsurgery.com/
Both surgeons are excellent

http://www.yellowpages.ca/bus/British-Columbia/Victoria/Mali k-Samaad-Dr/6199920.html
Dr Malik, your GP or you can contact his office for referral info

http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/services.asp?pid=service &rid=1008784
Download the WW referral off website and have GP fill in and fax off. Take note; you are required to complete a few simple steps prior to admission to clinic..(I have heard of rare exceptions made due to current health status in regards to completing steps prior to clinic admission).
1. Must attend min. 4 modules(can be arranged to be completed in one visit)
2. Begin writing a food & daily exercise activity journal (I suggest doing it regardless as it does work).
3. buy a pedometer and use daily(work way up to doing 10,000 steps a day). 

http://www.rqhealth.ca/programs/surgical_care/bariatric_surg ery.shtml
You and/or GP need to contact program directly for their referral info as I believe it's directly forwarded to you GP for completion.

http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/mhsip/oop.html
This gives more detailed information regarding out of province referrals

And of course there is my surgeon whom I found to be very skilled in WLS. 

I hope this info is helpful to you and all who will read this. Feel free to ask if there is something you do not understand or need help finding I'll be glad to help out.

All the Best to you in your WLS journey" 

 

 who was your surgeon? You went to Mexico, correct?  Alberta no longer accepts out of province

 BC

 Alberta does take out of province. Edmonton AB weight wise program is taking patients and has not stopped! I spoke with program directly a moment ago

 awesome! Funny how you can get different answers I was told emphatically that Alberta didn't...drives a person crazy.

 Calgary and the program in Red deer Alberta stopped because of complications . The weight wise program in Edmonton AB still is taking out of province patients, they accept referrals all the time from MB and have no problem with it. I normally check before I post links to programs. The only one apparently stopped recently is Regina sk but I havent heard back yet so I'm leaving info on still.

 You Rock!!

I talked to Lori today in Regina. My referral was sent in August of 2011 and went before the panel on February 15, 2012. I was told today that I was refused as they rarely take out of province people due to the large number of people in Saskatchewan requesting their services. I was encouraged to apply  within my home province which makes me feel like I'm going around in circles as manitoba encouraged me to look at other provinces. I had explained before it went to panel that I did not qualify for Manitoba's programs, and that Medicine Hat refused me (I would be over their age limit by the time my name came up) in hopes that might sway their decision but it was not to be
By all means apply, maybe you will get lucky but she told me it hardly happens anymore...

If I lived in AB, or any other province, and had to wait, I wouldn't want people from other provinces being able to muscle in my wait time (unless they needed the expanded criteria some other provinces have)   Does MB take people from other provinces?  should they?

NGD

 manitoba can't handle the needs of its own province, so its a moot point