Feeling lost in the paperwork!

I recently contacted OSU medical center about their gastric bypass surgery and was totally let down. I got the impression that I'm "interviewing" for my surgery rather than trying to find someone to HELP ME! My PCP has helped me quit smoking (YEA!) with this goal in mind, and I don't want to wait. I had an appt at a bariatric center in Columbus serveral years ago and got approval for surgery but couldn't quit smoking then. My questions at this point are many! Are programs at hospitals better than a specific clinics? Has anyone had this "interview" process at OSU that can tell me how long this process takes? Are all bariatric surgeries this difficult to work toward? I guess I'm looking for a "PRO" to help me through this before my weight balloons any further!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any and all idea appreciated! Sandi D

First of all Sandi "Congrats" on your quitting the cigarettes. I'm guessing that you live around the Columbus since you talk about OSU and the other Bariatric Center near. I am going to St. Vincent Hospital (Cleveland) There is a lot of questions asked during this process and most for good reason. You don't say why you felt that you were being interviewed. As for Insurance, I didn't have to do anything. They totally took over dealing with my Insurance company. I was very glad not to have to deal with that headache. I may receive a lot of static for saying this,but this is from my own experience. At the begining before I chose St.Vincent I contacted one of the largest Bariatric centers for information. after seeing one of their ads. I spoke with them by telephone and set up an appointment. Upon meeting I knew before I left I was not going to be having my surgery with them. There were several things I was not comfortable with. If you are getting a bad feeling about this center. Don't just overlook it. More than likely you're right.Good Luck

Sandi, I'm going through OSU also. Started my process back in July of 2006. I felt the same way you did at first because I had never heard anyone else say that "they were approved by the clinic for surgery",( now we have to go through the insurance). They gave me guidelines to follow and hoops to jump through, etc. This is my idea of how things happen there. They get guidelines from the various insurance companies that their patients have. (the guidelines for my insurance co. changed at the end of 2006) I was required to attend a supervised WLP for 12 weeks, which I did, but when they submitted this info they found out I was supposed to go for 6 mons. They are trying to work around this. I start my final nutrition classes the end of April (which will give me an additional 4 weeks of supervised WL classes) and have my consult with Dr. Mikami this Monday. My program director said to continue with the process, since they haven't gotten a denial letter back from the insurance company. (In other words, the hoops you're jumping through really do belong to the insurance company.) Now I have heard that Fresh Start Bariatrics through Riverside Hospital has a shorter waiting period. If Fresh Start would have been open when I started my process I would probably have gone with them because I've had surgery at Riverside before and like the hospital. Let me know how things are going with you. Keep me posted. Peggy

Hi Sandi, I had started to go through Mt. Carmel and I felt the same way you do. First, I had to fill out all kinds of paperwork and tell them what my insurance covers. Then I had to wait 3 weeks to get the approval that they accepted me into their program. That's when I found out that I had to jump through hoops and get all of the "clearances" done before I could even get a consult. And that's after they wanted me to pay $300 for their Admin fee. Why should I pay an Admin fee when I HAVE to do all of the legwork? So I got really depressed and decided to call Barix in Groveport. (Mind you I live all the way out in Marysville, way past Dublin). As soon as I called, I had an orientation and a consult 3 days later!!! No jumping through hoops! They KNOW what the insurance requires and gave it to me right there. They immediately passed on my info to their inhouse insurance specialist so they could get the approval process going. So no hoops for Barix, just for my ins company though. I also really liked their facility. It's new and they have customized it for obese people. It was the first time I could sit in a chair and put my purse next to me! I did some research for I even called them and everyone I talked to here at OH had really great things to say. So you might want to give them a call.

Hi Paula, Thanks for the suggestion. I called them after I read your email, and have an appointment Saturday April 21. They dont seem to waste any time, and I like that. I had actually talked to them 2 years ago, and wasn't able to quit smoking, so I couldn't go through with it. Now I've quit smoking, and I want to get the "ball rolling" as quickly as possible. Have you had or scheduled your surgery? I'm excited and kind of afraid all at once. My sister-in-laws friend had it done and says she's never regretted her decision, but having another opinion and more info may make me more at ease.

Hi Sandi, I am so happy to hear that you have the meeting on Saturday. That is great! You will have your initial consult and they will get the insurance ball rolling. You will also find out what other clearances you need. Unfortunatly, I have to wait 3 month until I can submit the paperwork for approval, but that is because of Aetna. They require a supervised period of weight loss. So I am working with Katie who is the dietician at Barix. She is really good. They don't normally offer this 3 month program (diet, exercise, and behavior), but they do it if your insurance requires it. The only other thing Dr. Vig required was a sleep study. Good luck to you. Hope you don't have to wait as long as I do!

I went through the complete program at OSU and there is method to their madness! By the end of the program you thoroughly understand your nutritional needs and how to read nutrition labels, you've been taken on a supermarket tour that really opened my eyes! You've worked out a food plan for yourself and been weighed every week. Your food plans and weight loss are reviewed weekly by a nutritionist who advises you constantly on helpful changes you can make. You have worked out an exercise program with an exercise physiologist that will work for you no matter how heavy you are. And you have been OK'd by a psychologist that you want to do this for the right reasons and have an opportunity for individual behavioral counseling at no extra charge. And you've done all this with dozens of other Columbus folk - pre-surgery and post-surgery - and made friends with many of them. Yes, it takes time, but they know what they're doing!