University Hospital Cleveland Question

Hi All, I have seen postings in the past about University Hospital's program taking a long time to schedule surgery. I have had all my test results that they requested to them for two weeks and I have had my insurance approval for a month. Has anyone had this problem and how long did you have to wait to be scheduled? I guess I am getting impatient, doctors go on vacations too, but I work for a school system and it is to my advantage to be off with surgery during the summer, so I can come back with the start of school in late August....AD

Hi, do you have to go to university????? I had my surgery at St.Vincents and since you have had all your tests and ins. clearence I would call them, they have a GREAT program. email me if you want and I`ll give you all the info I have. Debbie -67#

Hi, I don't know where Medina is but there is Dr. Curry in Cincinnati and he is now scheduling for mid August if that will help. Best wishes! PJ"wave" wfad

Alice, Hi! I was approved in april and am having my surgery next week with Dr. Stellato. I now this week 2 of the nurse are on vacation. So you will probaly get a call next week. I know it takes a long time but they are worth waiting for. Who is your surgon? E-mail me. Pattie

Hi Alice, I'm in Medina as well, and I would rather drive further out to get to a hospital with a better program. I have been doing a lot of research on bariatric surgery, and hospital programs. You may want to try a private hospital or one that specializes in bariatric surgery. I have decided on Barix Clinics, even though they are about a 2 hour drive. Gretchen

Hi Gretchen, thanks for the response, but the Barix facilities and their doctors are not in my insurance network. I cannot afford to pay anything out of pocket, and UH and Dr. Hallowell will be completely paid by my insurance (QualChoice). University Hospital is owned by QualChoice and there is a very good relationship there. The University Hospital Bariatric Program is known for being able to get plastic surgeries after weight loss covered by insurance. QualChoice has had a policy in effect since 1993 that if you are disfigured as a result of surgery (this was initially for women having breast cancer surgery) they have to fix you up and restore your symmetry, etc. I looked into Barix and several other programs and since the first surgeon I selected went out of state because he could not afford the malpractice insurance premiums, my next choice was University Hospital. Their program fits my needs and situation better than the others. Alice

Hello, I experience somewhat of the same problem with Dr. Hollowell of University Hospital. I really did not get good vides from University so I went to Bariatric Treatment Center in Columbus OHIO (the new name is Barix). I was kind of torn between to two different places only because of the two-hour drive. I will tell you this, once I went to BTC my mine was made up. Dr. Stelmack was my surgeon and he is a wonderful surgeon. Once I met with the Dr. Stelmack and the staff at Barix I did not think about UH any more. Barix had me approved in less than two weeks. I had my WLS two weeks after my approval. If you have already been approved and willing to drive two hours I highly recommend Barix. My approval and surgery was all within 30 day. Barix really knows what they are doing.