Flint or Saginaw for surgery
I am wanting to get the lapband surgery and i live in BAy city, Mi. I have a seminar date for the hurley barix center on march 25th and one for covenent in saginaw for april 22nd. covenent in saginaw has one surgeon and he only works on Thursday and is booked, and i just dont have a good feeling about them. I would like to know more about Hurley and the requirements they have you do before surgery and how long it usually takes from the seminar to having a surgery date. if any one knows please help me.
Also I know what i need from saginaw but im not sure about Flint as far as requirements.
I have BCBS PPO and a bmi of over 50 so I know that i qualify i dont have any health issues other than my body feels like I am 60 instead of 29. So just wondering if anyone can tell me about FLint cuz i have called a 24 hour # and the guy didnt know anything and by the time i get home from work the office is closed so i cant call them.
Please help with any info I want the surgery yesterday!!!
~Holly~
HKAYE
Hi Holly,
I am going through Hurley Bariactric Center. As a matter of fact, my surger is Monday!! I am completely comfortable with them. One thing you said in your post was that 'I just don't have a good feeling about them'. that right there should tell you something. If it was me and I didn't feel comfortable with them, I'd go somewhere else!
As far as the requirements, I had to have my medical records (4 years) sent to them, along with my physicians referal form. I attended a seminar, made my consultation with the surgeon, and completed a psych evaluation. Once approved thru insurance, Hurley has you go through pre admission testing which consists of a blood test, urine test, pulminary test, EKG and lung/chest xray.
Of course I had to meet the requirements of my insurance (Aetna) in order for the insurance to cover it, whi*****luded either a 3 mont multidisciplinary program or 6 month physician supervised diet.
Hope this helps.
Nancy
I am going through Hurley Bariactric Center. As a matter of fact, my surger is Monday!! I am completely comfortable with them. One thing you said in your post was that 'I just don't have a good feeling about them'. that right there should tell you something. If it was me and I didn't feel comfortable with them, I'd go somewhere else!
As far as the requirements, I had to have my medical records (4 years) sent to them, along with my physicians referal form. I attended a seminar, made my consultation with the surgeon, and completed a psych evaluation. Once approved thru insurance, Hurley has you go through pre admission testing which consists of a blood test, urine test, pulminary test, EKG and lung/chest xray.
Of course I had to meet the requirements of my insurance (Aetna) in order for the insurance to cover it, whi*****luded either a 3 mont multidisciplinary program or 6 month physician supervised diet.
Hope this helps.
Nancy
Nan
HW 300 / SW 280 / CW 138 / GW 140
Hit Goal 4/2/2010
Have you researched all the available procedures?? Have you read the Memorial page here? Have you talked to others about long term results etc?
If not; I strongly encourage you to do so BEFORE you decide not only on which weight loss procedure to have, but also by whom & where.. This is a lifetime commitment and you are worth it.. So research, research & more research.. THEN Do what is best for you, NOT deciding what is quickest etc..
If not; I strongly encourage you to do so BEFORE you decide not only on which weight loss procedure to have, but also by whom & where.. This is a lifetime commitment and you are worth it.. So research, research & more research.. THEN Do what is best for you, NOT deciding what is quickest etc..
hi i had my wls in may of 2001 and had excellent care there. when i had mine the were only doing the open rny. i know i am not much help but just want to let ya know that hurley is a good choice.also trust your instincts if ya dont have a good feeling about a doctor then RESEARCH and find one you are comfortable with.
I just had my surgery done at Hurley on 2/25. I never went to a seminar. From the time I approached my PCP to surgery was 9 months. My Insurance would have covered both Covenant & Hurley. I did my research here, my PCP and with other sources and picked Hurley hands down.
The first thing I did was call Hurley and asked the process. They were great and gave me by the book what MY insurance would need and the order. I took that info to my PCP and got the ball rolling. I actually went thru the process backwards to appease the Insurance Co.
If you would like to hear more, PM me.
The first thing I did was call Hurley and asked the process. They were great and gave me by the book what MY insurance would need and the order. I took that info to my PCP and got the ball rolling. I actually went thru the process backwards to appease the Insurance Co.
If you would like to hear more, PM me.
BAND REMOVED 9-4-12-fought insurance to get sleeve and won! Sleeved 1/22/13! Five years out and trying to get that last 15 pounds back off.
Hi Holly -
If it were my body, I'd go to Hurley (actually, I did). The program in Saginaw is VERY new and from what I understand they don't have an aftercare program at all. I don't know anything about the surgeon in Saginaw.... but you want to know how many surgeries he's done (over 500 is preferred), how long he's been doing WLS, what types is he able to do, what's his mortatlity rate, complication rate, etc. Personally, I'd run far and fast away from Saginaw, but that's just my opinion.
Hurley is a Bariatric Center of Excellence, has an outstanding aftercare program including support groups, psychologist and MD on staff, nutriontist and medical staff on call for assistance. The program has been around for many years (my sister had her RNY there 8 years ago) and the reputation of their surgical staff is outstanding.
The 24-hour number is usually just for emergencies, so you won't get any questions answered there. Give them a call on Monday to find out when the next seminar is.
All surgery clinics have basically the same requirements which pretty much are in line with your insurance company. (Basically the NIH Guidelines.) Call the number on the back of your insurance card and get a list of the exact criteria for approval. Make sure you check on ALL the surgeries that are covered --- even if you think you're going to get the Band, check the others in case you change your mind. Once they tell you all the information verbally, have that list mailed to you. That list will become your checklist to get things done. Your PCP or surgeon might have additional criteria or medical tests, so check that too.
The typical time line for getting surgery -- from the time you start to the time you're in the OR -- is about 18 months. I used the whole 18 months, but a friend of mine has gotten through it in 6 months, some I've heard are even less than that... but definitely DO NOT rush this process. You need the time to process the emotional and physical issues that go along with it. And make sure you are researching ALL FOUR of the surgeries -- Band, RNY, VSG, DS -- even if you don't think you want to know about the others, research them anyway.
There's a support group meeting held at Hurley every 1st monday of the month. We'd love to have you there.
Pam
If it were my body, I'd go to Hurley (actually, I did). The program in Saginaw is VERY new and from what I understand they don't have an aftercare program at all. I don't know anything about the surgeon in Saginaw.... but you want to know how many surgeries he's done (over 500 is preferred), how long he's been doing WLS, what types is he able to do, what's his mortatlity rate, complication rate, etc. Personally, I'd run far and fast away from Saginaw, but that's just my opinion.
Hurley is a Bariatric Center of Excellence, has an outstanding aftercare program including support groups, psychologist and MD on staff, nutriontist and medical staff on call for assistance. The program has been around for many years (my sister had her RNY there 8 years ago) and the reputation of their surgical staff is outstanding.
The 24-hour number is usually just for emergencies, so you won't get any questions answered there. Give them a call on Monday to find out when the next seminar is.
All surgery clinics have basically the same requirements which pretty much are in line with your insurance company. (Basically the NIH Guidelines.) Call the number on the back of your insurance card and get a list of the exact criteria for approval. Make sure you check on ALL the surgeries that are covered --- even if you think you're going to get the Band, check the others in case you change your mind. Once they tell you all the information verbally, have that list mailed to you. That list will become your checklist to get things done. Your PCP or surgeon might have additional criteria or medical tests, so check that too.
The typical time line for getting surgery -- from the time you start to the time you're in the OR -- is about 18 months. I used the whole 18 months, but a friend of mine has gotten through it in 6 months, some I've heard are even less than that... but definitely DO NOT rush this process. You need the time to process the emotional and physical issues that go along with it. And make sure you are researching ALL FOUR of the surgeries -- Band, RNY, VSG, DS -- even if you don't think you want to know about the others, research them anyway.
There's a support group meeting held at Hurley every 1st monday of the month. We'd love to have you there.
Pam
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The scale can measure the weight of my body but never my worth as a woman. ~Lysa TerKeurst author of Made to Crave
WOW you guys are great I didnt expect to come home to all this great info. I am definatly going to go to Hurley and its funny I was thinking today that i need to take my time on this and not be so obsessive about when its going to happen.
I just love this site I have never had any type of weight support system and I really feel that this site is going to be a big part of my recovery (emotional recovery). I dont have many ppl in my life that are overweight and they dont seem to understand it. And as far as the surgery alot of ppl that i have told have said things like "you can do it on your own if you really tried" They dont get it. My mom and dad are very supportive because they have seen me struggle, cry, and be miserable my whole life about it but my friends and my brothers think I am trying to take the easy way out(non of my family has weight issues btw). I tell them do you think this is going to be easy?? I tell them to research it for themselves and tell me if they think it is an easy way out.
I have prayed about having the surgery and then I got BCBS from work coinsidence... I dont think it is:)
Anyways thanks your your responces and Pam I just may start going to the meetings:)
I just love this site I have never had any type of weight support system and I really feel that this site is going to be a big part of my recovery (emotional recovery). I dont have many ppl in my life that are overweight and they dont seem to understand it. And as far as the surgery alot of ppl that i have told have said things like "you can do it on your own if you really tried" They dont get it. My mom and dad are very supportive because they have seen me struggle, cry, and be miserable my whole life about it but my friends and my brothers think I am trying to take the easy way out(non of my family has weight issues btw). I tell them do you think this is going to be easy?? I tell them to research it for themselves and tell me if they think it is an easy way out.
I have prayed about having the surgery and then I got BCBS from work coinsidence... I dont think it is:)
Anyways thanks your your responces and Pam I just may start going to the meetings:)
HKAYE
A friend of mine lives in Bay City and came down to DMC to have her surgery (lapband). Her insurance didn't cover it so she had to pay cash and DMC was cheapest. She has had enough problems, getting fills and not feeling full, thereford not losing weight because she eats too much. Plus, she doesn't have a support group in Bay City. I've told her about this website, but she's not the most computer literate person. The next time I go up to visit her I'm going to try to set her up in here. She could really use the support you get on this site. I'm really glad I found it.
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