CBC Weightloss Surgery on the News and Radio

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2012/03/04/mb-g astrectomy-doerksen-losing-it.html

Losing It

Tune in to CBC Radio One,CBC News: Winnipeg and cbc.ca/manitoba this week for Losing It, a three-part series by reporter Gosia Sawicka about extreme weight-loss options in the province.

On Tuesday, Gosia will speak to the surgeon who performs the vertical sleeve gastrectomy procedure as part of Manitoba Health's pilot program.

Just read  the story featuring Keith!  WTG I am so proud of you all for telling your stories.  Can't wait to tune in tonight.  I hope I get home early enough.  Just going home after a very LONG three week assignment!  Will see everyone at the M & G. 

Saw this on the news tonight. Hoping it is going to help get thisprogram opened up.

Just got confirmation Michelle and I will be on Tuesday at 6pm.  I am so nervous about the comments that are going to be made.

Michelle

Just saw Keith...Keith you did good and you look incredible!!   Look forward to seeing the M&M's tomorrow! 

M&M, lol!

The interview is posted on the CBC website already and it sounds great (and a pic of Michelle and Dr. Andrews)  The article does mention why they don't do men yet - thank god cause the reporter's lack of information to the public about that yesterday made for some pretty pissed off people who thought the program was discriminating against men for no reason.  Way to stir the pot Ms. Sawicka.  We want positive thinking and remarks towards our program, not inflammed comments due to only incomplete presentation. 

I hope the last part on Wed. will include not only the call for Government approval (funding) to make this a permanent program but also maybe the reporter has done a little research into how we can expand it.  Things that need to addressed are:

1) is there even any more open theater times to expand? Will they need duplicates of specialized equipment?  I assume they can't use standard trocars, etc for larger patients with thicker abdomens.
2) do the Drs want to do more surgeries? can they handle more OR time as well as the pre operative visits that will also increase? (don't forget the new baby and ? more to come??)
3) are there surgeons from other provinces that want to come here and set up shop if an expansion is possible?

I hope she could address these kind of issues instead of just a blanket demand for more $$$.

NGD

The WRHA is supose to make a decision in about 2-3 months if they are going to expand the program, keep it the way it is or end it.

I really can't see this pilot project coming to an end.  I'm trying to be optimistic in believing that the program will be here to stay with an expanded criteria.  I know I mentioned it somewhere before in this forum but I will repeat myself.    Back in September at my initial consult with Dr. Vergis I asked him about the possibility of the program being terminated.   His words that stick in my mind are "We are the only province without a bariatric program in Canada.  If that should happen I would leave the province." 

I thought the decision was with MB Health, not the WRHA, my mistake.  I wonder if any other RHA would be (or could be) considered for this program?  ie: Brandon.   The only problem I could foresee there would be the lack of tertiary care in a "rural" area.  Patients in our facility requiring surgery weighing over 120 kg are immediately sent to Wpg as they are considered a high anaesthtic risk.  I know for our RHA, we have plenty of OR time, but cannot do the high risk surgeries here.

I'm just trying to explore possible solutions here, if anyone has any feasible ideas that could be included in a letter to Theresa Oswald, that would be more than welcome.  I have written to her (as most of us have) but I feel we would get her attention more if we did some research into solution instead of just asking for money for approval. 

just sayin' ......

NGD