Question

I called a surgeons office to schedule an appt. to discuss LAP BAND , was told to go to a seminar first, pick up paperwork and send/fax it to Dr. Loosers` office.  Is this how you all went about it?

Hi Jenn,     Others here are much more versed than me but I do think you've been told the norm for this 'industry'.  I've been told that insurance companies are driving a 'program' approach to WLS.  You get a referral from a PCP and then you face two sets of hurdles 1) the hurdles your insurer requires you to jump and 2) the set of hurdles your chosen program requires that you jump.  Some of these hurdles are the same but some aren't.  So far as I can see, these WLS programs have quite a few hurdles for you to face before you get to meet a surgeon.  Now, perhaps it is very different for self-pay but one packet I am looking at right now says their process goes like this regardless of who's paying: 1.  attend an info session - complete a form and return to program 2.  complete medical hisoty forms and return 3.  get PCP referral and copies of certain records sent to program 4. if this is deemed acceptible-you'll be contacted 5.  first visit with nurse - initial assessment (1+ hrs) 6.  2nd visit with dietition (1+ hr) put on a diet 7. 3rd visit is with medical director for physical exam and set up pre-approval testing (sleep studies, ultrsound, EKG) 8.  Monthly weigh-ins ongoing meanwhile 9.  Once all testing and required weight loss is done, you see a surgeon 10.  Must attend minimum of 2 support group meetings pre-op. And this is the program's list  and not from any insurer.  For people who have to travel any distance, this starts to add up to a lot of time on the road and maybe time out of wrok.  I'm looking at the lap band and it is a serious negative for me to add to this list a steady number of post-op trips in order to have a fill, another fill, an unfill?, more fill, and a tiny bit taken out....  Maybe experienced folks here will be able to calm me down - hope so.  Anyway, this is what I've seen in the past few months as I've begun looking into WLS for myself.  Best of luck - Treading

That is the way the Portsmouth program runs it.  It does seem a little "strange" at first that you would not see the surgeon before anything else.  But there are reasons for it.  They do the seminar and present most of the information you would want to know at that initial drs appointment, plus more.  They also take questions at that time.  The surgeons are there, the nutritionist, the psychiatrist, and bariatric coordinator.  Nancy S the coordinator will call you once she receives your "application to the program" which you receive after the seminar is over.  Basically this is a detailed medical history.  You will want to weigh in with Nancy as soon as possible as this is your starting weight recorded to lose your mandatory 10%.  If you lose prior to this it WILL NOT COUNT towards your 10%.  You can call her early and do a weigh in, then get started on the 10% and do the initial intake later on.  Nancy will send you through the requirements of the program.  When you get off the 10% then you can proceed to see the surgeon.   I know it seems strange, but it works out well.