Hurry up and wait

anyone else in the process of wls at ohsu still wating to here from them....because your file is in review..my whole 9 pages of medical records have been in review for 2 weeks now im hoping they will call soon.........there is so much wasted time i feel like i could be doing other test and pych eval while i wait..........but i have to wait for them to tell me what i need.......i understand they are busy and im sure they are not sitting around eating bon bons rather than making appts......but it just seems extreme........i have so many questions like if your insurance doesnt cover 100 percent do they want the difference up front ......and when do they summit for approval........how far into do they let you get before you know if insurance has approved......ahhhhhhhh

Not only are the two NPs reviewing files, but they also see outpatients and teach info and surgery prep seminars and have team meetings.  Plus, they visit patients in the hospital after surgery.  They also respond to messages patients send on their secure clinic accounts called MyChart as well as e-mails and phone calls.  They're incredibly busy that they hardly have time to eat bonbons.  Also, the NPs are training a student NP who is practically clueless. Your assigned NP will advise you as to what procedures need to be done prior to your surgery date being set up and then getting a consult with your assigned surgeon. Usually the coordinator contacts patients to set up initial appts with the NP and the dietician after the files are reviewed by the NPs. At OHSU, if your insurance doesn't cover 100 percent, then OHSU will bill you for the difference after insurance pays OHSU.

Hi Sharroona,  I'm in the same boat.  I called last Friday I think it was and Heather actually answered.  She said she had most of my medical records and was going to send to review.   Everyday I'm hoping to get a call.    I was wondering the very same thing about the insurance, if I'm expected to pay my portion up front or not and what the amount is even going to be.  I hope we hear something soon!  Do you have to do the six month medically supervised diet for your insurance?  I do, but the first month will be up the 30th, then five more to go.   Linda

Hey Linda Its nice to meet people in the same part of the process as i am ...........i dont have to have 6 months of a supervised diet ...but there is certain criterior you have to meet ..........so im going to keep waiting and hoping everyday i could be closer....let me know if you get yur appt and i will do the same....

For me they checked my insurance twice-once when I went infor the initial consultation appointment with the nurse practitioner and then a second time after all of my tests were in. The first one is sort of a do you have a chance at all in getting this covered. The second approval is the actual letter stating you personally will be covered. I waited about 4 weeks between my records arriving and my first appointment if that helps. My advice is practice waiting because that is the most difficult part of this whole thing. There will be plenty of waiting but then out of the blue the phone call comes and you are scheduled! Tina

I'm also in the process of wls at OHSU. My records and green forms were turned in 4/25/08. The NP was out for a week and that has delayed the review process. I was told not to expect contact  until the 1st week in May. Its hard to wait, I know!! Brenda

hey just wanted to let you heather at ohsu called and i finally got an appt with the nutrtionist and np.....its for the begining of june hopefully they will call you to schedule too.......good luck

Best of luck in your initial appts with the NP and dietician!

I turned my paperwork in months ago. I went to the initial seminar back in january, and it was march when I got in my green sheet and medical records. AND i'm still waiting for a call. I was told my stuff was in review too.  I'm self pay, and have an akward school scedule to work around, so I was realy looking forward to getting this done this summer, but if your apt isn't until june, I may just be out of luck.   ugh...        sometimes it seems this is more disapointing than if i just decided to stay fat. At least when before  was happy and sassy, now I'm just getting anoyed and depressed.    Like I had to convince myself that being fat was bad. So, now I just feel bad, all the time, with no end in sight.   

Hey girl I know what you mean.....its like dangeling candy in front of a kid..but they dont let you have any........you should call them again ....i was told it take 2-3 weeks for reveiw....and you are well beyond that ...call them againg and ask what your waiting for...it cant hurt ....stay positive everyone says its a waiting game.....