MEETING WITH DUKE DR/SURGERY
Hi Everyone,
I had my meeting with the DR that is going to do my surgery. Dr. Portiener , He was a very nice man , honest and straight to the point. I know that I will be in great hands next THURSDAY. He answered all of our questions and put our minds at ease and made us feel very comfortable.
Well I just wanted to get on a let everyone know of my experience today. I'll be on later tonight. Have a good evening.
Stephanie
Stephanie, 
I hope that you rethink the Duke Bariatric Clinic on Duke Street. I tried there twice. The Clinical staff was great. The office staff was horrible. Their insurance "guru", Beth Millard was the most rude person I have ever dealt with. She never stopped to talk and help us. She treated me like I was nothing. I can't say tell you how horrible that experience was.
I live in Durham and it would have been so easy for me to go there. I had a Primary care physician there, I have been going to Duke for 15 years. I went to the Bariatric Clinic in 2004, I met her at the open meeting and I signed up immediately. She was very nice at the initial meeting. That was it.
I was turned down because of my insurance and for other reasons. Beth was not helpful in getting me on track with the insurance. I felt lost and did not know what to do regarding my insurance. She never stopped to help me, she was running around the office shouting orders to me. I was never clear about what to do. I was frustrated and upset and I gave up.
I decided to go to the Pinehurst meeting in Raleigh and met Dr. Mitchell. It was the right thing at the right time!
The Pinehurst office staff have treated me like a queen. Carmen has made appointments for me and emailed my schedules. I can email her with any questions and within a few hours I have an answer. She sends me words of encouragement. They are serious about the surgery. I am their patient for life and they are going to take care of me. Duke is not going to be there for me forever.
Since I have been working with the Pinehurst staff they have been informative and insiteful. They understand my frustrations, hold my hand and know that it is a emotional process wanting to lose weight. There is so much riding on this surgery. My dreams! My dreams of being smaller, of being able to wear pretty clothing, of sitting in a lawn chair without the fear of it breaking, playing around, getting around, etc. They know it all, they have it all there to make me comfortable! They also have all the clinic stuff you need at their campus.
I cannot say enough good things regarding Pinehurst and hope that you rethink about switching to it.
Good luck on this precious journey!
I am there with you.
I am going for my cardiac exam on Monday. It is the last test before surgery. I think I need to meet with Dr. Mitchell and then the paperwork is sent away. I know my insurance is on board with the surgery, but you just never know. So I am still on pins and needles. I hate the waiting. I have been waiting for quite awhile but I think I got it right this time.
Good luck
I hope that you rethink the Duke Bariatric Clinic on Duke Street. I tried there twice. The Clinical staff was great. The office staff was horrible. Their insurance "guru", Beth Millard was the most rude person I have ever dealt with. She never stopped to talk and help us. She treated me like I was nothing. I can't say tell you how horrible that experience was.
I live in Durham and it would have been so easy for me to go there. I had a Primary care physician there, I have been going to Duke for 15 years. I went to the Bariatric Clinic in 2004, I met her at the open meeting and I signed up immediately. She was very nice at the initial meeting. That was it.
I was turned down because of my insurance and for other reasons. Beth was not helpful in getting me on track with the insurance. I felt lost and did not know what to do regarding my insurance. She never stopped to help me, she was running around the office shouting orders to me. I was never clear about what to do. I was frustrated and upset and I gave up.
I decided to go to the Pinehurst meeting in Raleigh and met Dr. Mitchell. It was the right thing at the right time!
The Pinehurst office staff have treated me like a queen. Carmen has made appointments for me and emailed my schedules. I can email her with any questions and within a few hours I have an answer. She sends me words of encouragement. They are serious about the surgery. I am their patient for life and they are going to take care of me. Duke is not going to be there for me forever.
Since I have been working with the Pinehurst staff they have been informative and insiteful. They understand my frustrations, hold my hand and know that it is a emotional process wanting to lose weight. There is so much riding on this surgery. My dreams! My dreams of being smaller, of being able to wear pretty clothing, of sitting in a lawn chair without the fear of it breaking, playing around, getting around, etc. They know it all, they have it all there to make me comfortable! They also have all the clinic stuff you need at their campus.
I cannot say enough good things regarding Pinehurst and hope that you rethink about switching to it.
Good luck on this precious journey!
I am there with you.
I am going for my cardiac exam on Monday. It is the last test before surgery. I think I need to meet with Dr. Mitchell and then the paperwork is sent away. I know my insurance is on board with the surgery, but you just never know. So I am still on pins and needles. I hate the waiting. I have been waiting for quite awhile but I think I got it right this time.
Good luck I'm so sorry that you had a bad experience wity DUKE..I guess each person can only speak for themselves I had no problem with anyone. i got a call on j an 23 and had surgery on feb 8 getting approved was no problem for beth. Again sorry to hear about your experience. I hope that you get your date soon.
Stephanie
Beth is VERY rude. I was just there on the 9th for the seminar and if you didn't have BCBS she talked down to you. She made sarcastic comments to people about having therepist and such. The surgical team was wonderful! I was so disappointed that I cried most of the way home... and I live in Asheville! She is the reason I changed my mind and now have to do my referral all over again. 
I was already approved by my insurance and had all my tests complete. Good luck be with you there!!
I was already approved by my insurance and had all my tests complete. Good luck be with you there!! Most Active
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