WLS Out of Province programs, referral info

 I understand and believe all this just access health services is a pain. If MB had a program of its own not just a pilot project further discussion on whether or not should allow incoming patients would be more appropriate. As it stands MB does not have full program yet so patients are still needing to access services outside MB in particular Alberta. I been informed that wait times are well balanced In whom recieves access first, out of province patients just don't come in and Push anyone out of line. I had heard of exceptional cir****tances where as a patient moves quicker due to extreme health conditions a life or death type situation. 

 anyone up for a road trip to Edmonton in the summer?

Hey what's with the tag at end of your posts lol

 Me me me lol 

 sounds good...edmonton is taking out of province,( you sexy_me are my goddess). Gonna sit and crunch numbers and see if I can do their workshops this summer...then the referral then the out of province approval...maybe a year, year and a half.
*Gives the weird tag at the end of her post the evil eye

Thank you sexy_me for this great information!! For those of us just starting this process, I am very apprecaitive of all your help. I read of another woman on this board who is doing the Alberta thing..Im pretty sure she has to go to many appointments before the surgery (wish I could remember her name)..Still a few road trips to Albert is still cheaper than what I have calculated for Mexico (and my husband can quit giving me that "look" whenver I bring up surgery in Mexico..grr)

Okay, I found her..her name is seeking_freedom and she has lots of info on her site about going through Alberta. For me, Im concerned about having to make quite a few trips to Alberta ( I beleive at this stage its on your own dime) and afer the psych evaluation, that sitll doesnt mean you will get the surgery.  A lot of money spent out of pocket and not even a for sure thing..im not sure about that. The more knowledgable, please fill me in.

I see it as a misconception that other programs are more of a "sure thing" when it's really not like that. It may appear that way but each program has their requirements and at any point can refuse to allow you to continue. WW Edmonton is just more open to expressing this, i guess it might weed out those not ready by stating that.. in any case if you are ready and willing to put in the time go to WW. I am glad I went to WW and completed all the "workshops" , although in the end I did not have surgey there I'm grateful for the education I recieved in doing so. It really prepared me for what I needed to change and how to do it right. I would have loved to stayed and had surgery there but during the wait my needs quickly changed which forced me to go elsewhere. (at the time the wait was getting longer and longer but now its moving along good) 

I haven't heard of those ready for WLS being turned away. I know of only two ppl have turned away in 5 yrs.. 1 just flatly refused to change and the other had too many health concerns + an extremely high BMI that prevented her from safely having surgery(she's still keeping in touch with clinic while working on lifestyle changes and doing well from what I am told readmission could be later in year). 

Its an excellent investment in your health.

Have you considered sharing cost with someone else going up there for the workshops? maybe if anyone is interested in a small group travel to edmonton for at least the workshops it could be more cost effective and comforting to go along with a friendly companion.. something to look into i guess.

Take care 

Mb health will reimburse certain travel cost for the workshops, clinic appts, surgery.

they recommend arranging the workshops for same visit. I have done 4 workshops in one visit so it is possible... takes a little work on phone and patience lol  

i'll post upcoming WW workshop schedules in upcoming post tomorrow

I was told last year when I talked to the nurse in Edmonton that you do all the work, workshops, appointments, etc and then your Dr can send in a referral. She said the letter they get from the DR is not a referral it just gets the ball rolling. When everything is completed  he filsl out a form from them and then they decide if you can have surgery with them.
This made me a little hesitant to do the program because I could do all that work and have them say no and have to start all over somewhere else.
She also told me I couldn't take all my workshops at once but perhaps they have changed that. IT would be nice to be able to do all the workshops and appointment in one stretch.

Karen