Tricare People- Did this happen to you???
Hi Kim,
I look forward to seeing you then!
Barb
Barbara
ObesityHelp Coach and Support Group Leader
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/bcumbo_group/
High-264, Current-148, Goal-145
I am working on having my surgery at Womack. They have a very good program now that I am about halfway through. Tricare normally isn't allowing people to go elsewhere because this is a program that is a dedicated one with lots of dough being put into it to make it very good and with 5 years of follow-up to make sure all keeps being that good for the patients. I actually just heard about this recently at one of our mandatory educational meetings, thus why I actually had a bit of information on it LOL. We have 3 surgeons here in the bariatric clinic, one is deployed, but the others are still constantly doing the WL surgeries. Actually, we have a support group and educational combined meeting tomorrow night (Tuesday night in case this gets too long and goes past midnight) at 5:30 pm at Womack. We have to attend a minimum of 3 each of those two types of meetings, so many people begin attending before they even have their orentation session scheduled.
If there is anyway I can help, feel free to ask and I will sure try.
If there is anyway I can help, feel free to ask and I will sure try.
Hi Kim!
I'm sorry it took me so long to respond, I hope I can put you at ease about Womack. My first reaction when my PCP told me that I would have to have the surgery at Womack was pretty similar to yours. But...after going to their initial orientation, and working closely with them while working towards my RNY, my opinion changed completely. I truly feel that they have a highly qualified bariatric surgery department...and most important, they are adamant about follow-up. Yes, most of their surgeons can be deployed, but they always have at least one there. As a matter of fact, my surgeon, Dr. Amy Olsen is civilian and she's not going anywhere. The bariatric department is located within the general surgery clinic, but they have staff that is devoted solely to WLS patients and they all work together to make sure each patient is watched, protected, and covered completely. Surgeon, nurse, nutritionist, psych are all in the clinic. They follow-up labs every 3 months in your first year, 6 months for the next 2 years and I believe annually after that. They have done quite a few surgeries, and Womack takes great pride in that group. I had excellent success with them and would not hesitate to recommend the staff and hospital to you or anyone else.
As a matter of fact, now that I'm pregnant, they are willing to work with my OB Dr to make sure everything's taken care of. I really feel like I'm in a good situation. It's going to be somewhat sad for me if/when we leave this area, but even then I am told the staff likes to keep in contact with their patients.
I understand the concern, the military medical system doesn't get a lot of kudos in this day and age, but give them a chance. At least go check it out, work your way through some of the steps and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Good luck, and let me know if I can help at all!
I'm sorry it took me so long to respond, I hope I can put you at ease about Womack. My first reaction when my PCP told me that I would have to have the surgery at Womack was pretty similar to yours. But...after going to their initial orientation, and working closely with them while working towards my RNY, my opinion changed completely. I truly feel that they have a highly qualified bariatric surgery department...and most important, they are adamant about follow-up. Yes, most of their surgeons can be deployed, but they always have at least one there. As a matter of fact, my surgeon, Dr. Amy Olsen is civilian and she's not going anywhere. The bariatric department is located within the general surgery clinic, but they have staff that is devoted solely to WLS patients and they all work together to make sure each patient is watched, protected, and covered completely. Surgeon, nurse, nutritionist, psych are all in the clinic. They follow-up labs every 3 months in your first year, 6 months for the next 2 years and I believe annually after that. They have done quite a few surgeries, and Womack takes great pride in that group. I had excellent success with them and would not hesitate to recommend the staff and hospital to you or anyone else.
As a matter of fact, now that I'm pregnant, they are willing to work with my OB Dr to make sure everything's taken care of. I really feel like I'm in a good situation. It's going to be somewhat sad for me if/when we leave this area, but even then I am told the staff likes to keep in contact with their patients.
I understand the concern, the military medical system doesn't get a lot of kudos in this day and age, but give them a chance. At least go check it out, work your way through some of the steps and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Good luck, and let me know if I can help at all!
Deb
I wanted to add that at last nights meeting I was sitting by a lady who said she was coming down from Raleigh, so there may be the chance of meeting someone coming down from there that maybe you could at least do some car pooling with for the monthly meetings, plus it would mean there could be others around you coming here that you guys could be support for each other.
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