ugh...why can't government agencies use common sense

So I had my RNY in Quebec last year. I live in Toronto. I get in touch with TWH to see if there are support groups I can attend. they tell me I need to go to my family doctor. she has to refer me to the Ontario Bariatric Network and I have to start the whole program/process from the beginning...go to orientation etc.

That is ridiculous! Why would I use up a spot for someone who is waiting to start the process in all the meetings and hoops just to attend post-bariatric support sessions?

Talk about inefficient and wasteful. SMH

That is crazy; I agree with you. You've already had surgery so orientation, etc., is totally a time waster.

Yeah, totally inefficient :(

I feel your pain.. arggghhhhhh

I can see getting the referral to get you into the program. You would need an id# for sign in at each meeting BUT why the whole process? It's not like you need orientation and even to get to orientation you would have to fill out that giant questionnaire first which wouldn't really make any sense since you're post op. Maybe try calling the head nurse of the program at Toronto Western and explaining. I think her name is Sandra.

Hey, Travelher! :)
Your request sounds reasonable to me, and I feel - all things being equal - that you're entitled to your request, as well.
Go higher up. A well-placed phone call and/or email by someone as articulate as yourself will get results, I would imagine...
But...
Lol...If you're like me and prefer to go straight for the big guns...
Just, contact the Medical Ombudsman for TWH (or which ever hospital you feel isn't behaving with common sense, or by whom you may simply feel ignored).
The squeaky wheel does get the grease, m'dear...(Lol...trust me!) ;)

Did they send you to Quebec for surgery or did you self pay? I went through a self pay program and I was not entitled to use any of the OHIP funded programs. It was my choice to self pay and it was up to me to find support groups. There are many that are not done through the hospitals. I thought Twh meetings were just for their own patients. I was lucky that my self pay program has their own meetings plus they offered online support for those of us that didn't live in the GTA.

I agree with Tracey.

There are on-line ( similar to OH) plus patient directed support groups in most major areas. If you search this forum you will find listings for all the support groups in Ontario

To contact the ombudsman for such a trivial matter doesn't make sense to me. If you wish to partake in TWH's patient group then go through their hoops to join.

Self-pay is your choice and your decision. One of the downfalls is you are not associated with the OBN program. This has always been the major downfall for those seeking to skip the waiting and are able to afford to pay for their own surgery.

Those of us who wait out the system also get to partake in all the system has to offer.

Self pay was my choice because when I looked into the Ontario system I had zero confidence I was going to get good medical care. At every step I was having to explain what a revision is , let alone get to interview doctors for how many they had done. Given my doctor told me my lap band could kill me if I left it in and I could not confidently find an experienced doctor in Ontario I had no choice but to get it out pronto.

Attending a support group was more of a gives back kind of thing. I'm good with online support but I have had others contact me about meeting and thought I could attend some local meetings at TWH since it is not too far from my office.

Though as a Ohip Payor I do think the medical system should support post ops regardless of where they have surgery because they will end up a health care burden if they fail. It is the same reasoning for why bariatric surgery is supported to begin with. It is much cheaper for the govt to pay for surgery than the cost of obesity in the long run.

And to put a post op through hoops and creating a larger waitlist for people *****ally need the spots in a system that is overburdened already is stupidity bordering on insanity. But typical of large beaurocratic organizations.

Kind of like when revenue Canada told me to fax reciepts but they only have one fax line for a country of 30 million. So you can't get through. So I ask why I can't just scan them...I'm told there is no file to attach them to...but I'm supposed to believe there is with a fax? It must be truely soul murdering to work in these places.