Back from G'Vegas~ now playing the wait game warning VENT

I had my consult with my surgeon today. I FINALLY got to meet him and he is wonderful and sweet. My complete package will be faxed over and mailed out Monday morning. I had something happen last night that almost screwed this appointment up thanks to a very slack bariatric coordinator. Basically to make a long story short last wednesday when I was at the support meeting (the coordinator didnt show up she said she had a flat tire) she called to let us know she was not coming... she got me on the phone and said my chart had been picked up from her satellite office in Havelock and taken to Greenville. So I thought great everything is done now I just have to do pre-op and wait/pray for approval. My surgeons office called me yesterday to re-confirm I would be still coming. I asked if I should bring anything with me and they said *no just your Tricare authorization* I asked if they had all my paperwork and they said they couldnt FIND ANY.....

That put me into a tail spin and I couldnt figure out HOW the office manager who picked up my chart LOST IT...... I decided to call my Bariatric Coordinator to see if she could send another copy and I got her voice mail (no surprise) and I left her a message. She called me back a hour later and guess what? The office manager NEVER had my chart... she babbled on about some excuse about the manager just decided (ya right) to just *leave* the charts.... what am I stupid??? oh and she also tried to say the office fax machine was *messed up* but she would have my paperwork over to the office before they closed (for the record the paperwork showed up a few minutes before I arrived for my appointment) I called the office and the office manager Ann who is very nice said *so you think I have your chart?* I said well thats what I was told last wednesday on the phone, and now I was told you decided just to leave the charts which made NO sense at all... she started laughing and told me that she was never given any charts to take back to Greenville and THANK YOU for telling me. They are having a lot of problems with this coordinator and she has been nothing but a thorn in my side. It takes her days to return phone calls and emails and I was told Im not the first one who has complained.

The icing on the cake was I showed up and the coordinator had faxed over TWO THINGS out of a entire stack that I sent to her. Her answer was *heres her Psych and Nut documents, she should have the rest* What if I had not brought my test results with me? remember I was told ALL of it was going to be sent over!!!! that would of been another day off work and another trip to G'Vegas. I am sooooooooo glad I do not have to deal with her anymore, The office manager asked me to write a letter and also provide all the rude emails that I was sent and I hope they straighten her out and stop her from LYING to anyone else. I am now playing the waiting game for insurance.... sorry this is such a harsh posting but I feel I was treated wrong from the start by the Coordinator and I dont like being told lies.

Ok I feel much better now that I got that off my chest... I hardly got any sleep last night worrying about it... thanks everyone for listening.

Darcie

Darcie -

I'm soooo very sorry to hear that you had to go through that. I'm glad that you are on the ball and had your stuff together though. I hope that you will take the time to write a letter to the office about your experience. I really think that it would be a service to the Dr's office and even more so to patients that will follow in your foot steps. Can you imagine what would happen to someone who was not as organized and personally assertive as you are? You will truly be doing others a service if you take the time to write the letter.

I'm really glad to hear that you were comfortable with the Dr. I'm sure that his staff will be picking up the ball from here and you should have a much smoother time of it from here on out.

I'm glad that now you are truly on your way. I look forward to hearing about your progress.

Please keep us posted,

Barb

Barb~
Thank you so much for your kind words. I am writing the letter to hopefully prevent others from having to be handled like I have been by these kinds of office workers. You took the words right out of the office managers mouth that they need documentation from everyone so they can remedy the situation. The doctor I see has two other partners who do WLS and they see a lot of patients and many of them have been *assigned* to this bariatric Coordinator and they do not know any better. I am very comfortable with Dr. Mann, he explained everything to me about the surgery and we talked about risks, blood clots, Drain tubes, the hospital stay and his most important thing... getting up and walking around to get the body moving again He was surprised I knew so much about the surgery (thanks OH FRIENDS!) and was happy to hear this board is here to meet new friends and share experiences. Thanks again for writing Barb.


Darcie

OMG Darcie what a mess.

I admire your persistance on getting what you want but unfortunatly we have to fight for this and do not understand it what so ever.

Mother keeps telling me wls has been in lots of newspapers and on TV alot.

It maybe on TV and in the paper but what the media does not tell people is just how hard it is to have the surgery and how many hoops we have to jump through.

So heres to you Darcie for staying with it.

During the jumping through my hoop days I kept emails faxes, and even had my medical records at home.

                                     Annie

Thank you Annie!!! yes if you do not stay on top of things it would be very easy to go INSANE with all the excuses and lost paperwork and people not doing their jobs.... thanks for posting.

Darcie

Sorry you had to go through that.  But hey don't appoligize for venting here, that is what we are here for!    We understand! Crossing fingers for quick approval! Lori

Thanks Lori, it makes me feel good that I have you guys here to talk to and basically speak my mind, you all are the best group of people on the planet!!

Darcie

Sorry about your troubles but thr problems with charts and paper shuffle seems to be a universal problem in all these offices. Sometimes it makes us fell better to vent.... Hope things go smoother in the futer, Myrtis

oops did not check my spelling!!! Myrtis

Myrtis thanks for posting.. its too bad that people cannot do their jobs or feel they have to tell flat out lies! Im glad she FINALLY got some of the documents over and really glad I brought the rest of them with me. Greenville is not close to my house and the drive is a hour and a half each way, Im just looking forward to putting this behind me and now praying and hoping for a fast insurance approval

Darcie