Surgeon recomendation ??

I am in the process of getting insurance approval. (PCP sent predetermination letter on Friday.) There are two doctors that are in-network with my insurance - Dr. Zografakis at Summa and Dr. Chylsta at Akron General. I have read the profiles and comments on each. I would like to hear from anyone that may have had contact with both of them. What can you tell me about them? For those in the Akron area, why did you choose the surgeon you did? Thank you Shari

Shari, I am from Barberton and chose to go to University Hospital in Cleveland. Both of the Akron programs want Cash up front. It doesn't matter if your insurance covers it or not! I was not about to hand over cash when my insurance paid for everything! I love the program up at UH! It is a complete program....from pre-op....surgery...and most importantly post-op! I tried to go to every pre and post op meeting every month. It was so very helpful to me to go as a pre op patient and listen to the people who already had their surgeries....so in turn I try to go as often as I can to help any one that is considering surgery at the meetings. As a post-op patient I need all the positive reinforment that I can get. And I do get it at the post op meetings. I think it says volumes that the nurses, doctors, dietitian, pych nurse, exercise guru....you name it all come to the pre and post op meetings! Now as far as IF I had to chose an Akron hospital.....I would go with General because the former head of the bariatric program at UH is now the head of the program at akron general...... take time to investigate all the hosptials! Remeber you are making a change for a life time! Not just the surgery.........so make sure that they offer what you will need in the long haul.....not just a surgery date! Good luck! Just my 2 cents! Sue 320/goal 130/weigh 125 Oh...I now 1 year out!

Shari Originally I started with Dr. Z. at summa but then Medicare made a last minute decision that they would only pay for me to go to one of four centers they were in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnatti and Dayton. So I chose The Cleveland Center For Bariatric Surgery at St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio they were awsome I just had my surgery May 31st I'm 4 days post-op, But I was originally sent to Summa and Dr. Z. by a close friend of mine who is an open heart surgery nurse at summa and she is personal friends with John. I tlaked to him at great lenght and he seems very knowledgeable professional and very patient friendly they are a fairly new program thats why medicare has not accredited them to do the surgery yet , they'll be there in about another year Dr Z. said. I do know that have a $1,720 dollar program fee not sure if or any of that is refundable if you insurance picks up 100% of you surgery. I beleive when I spoke with him Dr John Z. he said they had done like 200 surgeries since the program started. I know where I went at St. V's they have done over 5700 surgeries. Just in case your interested and your insurance would o.k you to go there here is there website svch.net. Good Luck and MAY GOD BLESS you in your journey Jim

Shari Welcome fellow wadsworthite Sue is right you need to check out all the programs that appeal to you then make an informed decision I choose Dr Z at summa i wanted someone local and someone who would do laproscopic no matter what your size and my personal prefrence was Dr Z hes expirenced caring compassionate never makes you feel rushed has a top notch team working for him bev the finance / insurance person is awesome .. at general it sounded like you had to do alot of the insurance footwork yourself . as far as up front fees sue is right i believe summas was a little lower than generals but they both are around $2000 worth it to me not to have to drive to cleveland ... summa also has a support group awesome from what i hear i will go to my first meeting this month if you wanna know anything else feel free to e mail heck we can even get together if you like Missy