Bariatric Surgery being started at St. Francis Hospital.

Just want to let everyone know that St. Francis  Hospital, eastside ( womens), will be doing bariatric surgeries again. Dr. Anderson will be the surgeon. So anyone still looking for a doctor or undecided about who to use, this will be another option to consder. Since I work there, I thought I would give everyone a heads up on it. I do not have anything to gain from this other than job security, so I am not promoting either the hospital or the surgeon, just trying to be helpfull to those your are in the process of considering surgery and the options available to them.

Take Care!
Mary

I was considering using Dr Bour, but that fee is so much.  I'm a single parent of 3 and I just don't think I can swing it.  I have been going over how I can come up with the money for the last 4 months.  I was wondering does this Dr. Anderson have a fee ?  Where does he practice ? I live in Duncan....Where could I go to find more info ? Anything you can tell me would be beneficial.

Honestly, I have no idea if he charges a fee. I know he is a general surgeon and has done bariatric surgery in the past. I'm not sure when he will start doing the surgeries at ST. Francis, right now they are still preparing the hospital to accomodate the bariatric patients. I have his office number if you want to call and talk to them about it. It's  Dr. David Anderson 233-4349, I'm sure they can give you the info that you need. I  used Dr. Bour also, and yes I agree the fee is steep, I had to pay 2,500.00 in 2006 to have my surgery, but it was well worth it since he has a wonderful pre-op and post-op program. I know there are a lot of people that would have the surgery if they didn't have that upfront fee. I hope all works out for you, so keep in touch and let me know how it goes.

Hugs!
Mary

thanks for the info....I appreciate it...I'll give him a call and see what it's all about...some how some way I know I'm gonna work this out.  I want it wwwaaaaaaaayyyyy to bad !!! Thanks again !!

Dr. Bour lets you pay the fee in installments after you put 500 down. The fee is 2000.00 now.

I went to Dr. Bour's seminar and I really liked it but couldn't afford it so I decided to find another surgeon that would do it without the fee. I am going to Columbia. They don't charge you a fee at all and they take my insurance so I am now having surgery the 6th of March and they too are a center of excellence.
Kym

Thanks for the info....can you give me there contact info....I'd like to give them a call and ask some questions....also my insurance (Cigna) is requiring 6months weight loss history and what I liked about Dr. Bour's is that they help get all that together for you.  So if you'll give me the contact info I'd like to see what your doctor does in a situation like that.

Dr. Ross at Spartanburg Regional does not charge an up-front fee... Also, a Center of Excellence.

I found out more information on the surgery at St. Francis. There will be no fee, and they are trying to get everything set up for an April start up.From what I was told,  they will be having free information seminars on a regular basis and so far the program sounds really good. Right now I am trying to get with the director of the program and see if I can be involved with it since I have "been there and done that", lol. I really think it would be wonderful to have  more people who have had the surgery get involved with it, rather than someone who has been a "Barbie" doll all their life. The nurse that is doing all the coordinating has had  the surgery also, so I think it will be a wonderful program. I will try to keep everyone informed as I get the information.

Hugs!
Mary

I had my RNY at MUSC in the Ashley River Tower by T. Karl Byrne.  They only charge a $250.00 fee.  I was very pleased with the care I received at MUSC.  You can go the the MUSC Bariatric Surgery program online.  Check it out.