Health Parners referral for PCP

I met with the surgeon the other day and he aggreed with me that I need to find a new primary care physician who will support me in the approval process for WLS. I live in Lakeville and work in St. Paul. If you love your primary care physician and they support bariatric surgery, please share their name and phone!! Thanks so much!! Kimberly

Hi Kim- I love my PCP-have seen her for years and she is really awesome.  She is at the Burnsville Park Nicollet, Dr. Suzanne Engstrom.  She has been very supportive and positive about the surgery!! good luck-who is your surgeon?

Dr. Rupp with St. Paul Surgeons. I stayed after the informational meeting and talked with him. He sounded optimistic I could get it approved with my health insurance but told me I definately needed to find a new PCP. I have my 1st appt on Ties. I will call Suzannes office tomorrow. Thank you. I want this so bad and was turned down with BCBS 2 years ago...I have only gained 5 lbs and am considered a light weight but I have more than doubled all the pills I am talking. BCBS said my comorbidities were being managed w meds....hopefully we can show Health Partners, Its really just a slow spiral downward and better to work with me now before my health gets too poor!!

Hi Kim: I had to switch my PCP for the same reason when I was going through the process. I found a great one that I really like at HealthEast Downtown St. Paul Clinic:  Dr. William Armstrong 651-232-4200.  They are located across the street from St. Joe's Hospital, most of the doctors in the clinic are internists and they have a realtionship with Health East Bariatrics.  There is not a problem if Dr. Rupp is doing your surgery. I found them by asking my surgeon's nurse-  you might try that as well? Good luck- following up with a good PCP has been very comforting. 

Thanks so much!! I will call him tomorrow. I will try the surgeons nurse too!! I ask the surgeon and he said he couldn't make recommendations. Which i totally understood.