Help w/ PCP

Hello. This is my first post and I actually live in CA, but my cousin lives in Gresham, OR and does not have internet access so I am doing this for her. I myself am post-op, surgery was 5/6/00. She is 4'11', 250 lbs. and has been very overweight her whole life (like most of my family). We have talked extensively about the surgery and she is interested in getting a consult with a bariatric surgeon in her area. Now the problem. Her current PCP will not give her a referral. She barely touched the subject of surgery and he cut her off and just talked over her and gave her the name of another diet book to try (she didn't tell me which one). Anyway, she works for ODS insurance and obviously has their insurance coverage, and would like to know of a PCP who is open to referring patients to a bariatric surgeon. Any help anyone could provide would be wonderful. I thank you in advance. Crystal

Hi, Try Dr. Daniel Highkin. He is in Vancouver. He works with my surgeon, giving the required referal. He works at Fishers Landing. Sorry I don't have the number handy right now. Email me tomorrow if you can't find the number.

If Dr. Highkin isn't taking new patients, you could try Dr. Jamshidi at the Vancouver Clinic in Salmon Creek, I know that she is taking new patients and will work with a person for the correct referrels, etc.. She is very easy to talk to and is very knowledgable. If you need the number or more info. e-mail me and I will get them for you.

Hi Crystal.... I had a lot of support and encouragement from my PCP ...Dr Patrick Tester... he is in Gresham. He's with the Mt Hood Clinic. Good Luck! Penny

Thank you both very much...I will forward your comments to my cousin. I appreciate the info

Crystal, Last I heard ODS was excluding any coverage for WLS. I was talking to a lady who worked for ODS who was saying that they'd really locked things down when it came to weight related charges... Hope that's not the case for your cousin's coverage! Blessings, dina BPD/DS July 2, 2002 Dr. Aniceto Baltasar in Alcoy, Spain SW: 365 lbs, BMI 64 CW: 160 lbs, BMI 25.8 GW: 130 lbs, BMI 23 Read my story at: http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Dina/dina.html See my photos in the Photo Gallery at http://www.bodybybaltasar.com/