Dr. Alperovich at WISH Center.

I was at Valley on Wednesday and spoke to Dr. Alperovich, he stated the the center had been shut down by Corporate. He also reassured me that the office would be open well in advance of my scheduled surgery surgery in mid October. I am in shock right now after I saw the KOMO 4 news report. Has anyone else been able to transfer to another doctor, that would accept all the previous logs and plans of care?

That is such great news! As I have said, he's always seemed to be an amazing person, very compassionate and caring. I hope it's true! Thank you for sharing, Michelle!

NO ONE is responding to our requests for medical records. All that information is tranferable. But, you have to get it to transfer it. Even if they do open mid-October, I am not sure I want to have surgery with a DR or Center that does not care enough about their patients to tell the truth. If they will lie to us about this, what else will they lie about. If they do not care enough to return our calls and provide post up support and care for those that have gone before us, how will that change by re-opening. No thanks. I am done with the Wish Center.

And I completely understand. The trust factor has definately been broken here. I know I must sound like I am loyal to Dr. Alperovich. After going through such an emotional ordeal with surgery and all, I suppose to an extent I do. But the fact remains they have lied to us. They have not followed up in any way. If I were preop, I am sure I would be heartbroken and livid, and I don't blame you in the least bit. Something did cross my mind. What is he doing at the hospital itself if he has had no patients over the last several weeks? I am surprised they would even let him in the door after all this!

Glad to know someone has spoken to Dr. Alperovich. I am in the process of a second appeal for medical insurance coverage by Great West Healthcare and, since I am writing it myself this time and need to include the evidence they requested AND it's at the WISH Center, I have become very discouraged. I finally called LW Smith & Associates to see if I could locate Dr. von Suhr, who did exchange e-mails with me in late August, but nothing since then. I wound up speaking to Dr. Larry Smith (LW Smith!) and he was extremely kind, disturbed by what I was sharing with him about the WISH Center (Valley Medical suggested they might not even open), etc. I'm almost at 4 months now of prepping for lap-band surgery and I don't know how much longer I can hang in there. I really wanted Dr. ALperovich as my surgeon, but as Dr. Smith pointed out, I am the patient. Dr. Smith recommended some bariatric surgeons that LW Smith & Associates contracts with (as they do with the WISH Center). The $275 psychiatric evaluation I paid for could then be transferred to one of these doctors. He suggested I contact Dr. Chebli at NW Medical Center. I called Dr. Chebli's office and was warmly greeted by Dolores. She told me I'd have to attend Dr. Chebli's free seminar and, thank God, they had one scheduled for next Thursday so she signed me up. I was thrilled!! About 15 minutes later, she called me back and said she'd just learned that WISH Center patients do not have to attend the seminar and she wondered if I'd be available for a 9:45 appointment with Dr. Chebli this Monday (tomorrow am!). She told me to bring all my files. (I have copies of everything Dr. Alperovich has so my file transfer won't be much of a hassle.) She also wanted copies of any diets I'd tried during the past 2 years . Lastly, she told me that Dr. Chebli required his patients to lose 5% of their current body weight prior to surgery (p.s.: you can lose it any way you choose--you're not stuck on an ardous 75% liquid protein shake diet ). I have tried Fat Flush before and lost 14 lbs in two and a half weeks if that helps anybody out there. I feel terrible about Dr. Alperovich, but I have to think about myself. The staff at the WISH Center had pretty much convinced me that my insurance woes would be fixed within a few days and that surgery would occur immediately after that. The insurance coordinator (a darling gal) suggested I start the pre-op diet (ugh!) the 1st of August, so can you see why I'm down in the dumps? I've jumped through all their hoops (not to be taken as a negative) since June 1st and they knew my 1st grandchild would be arriving around the 1st of October, so they were hoping to do my lap-band surgery by the end of August. So much for that! Since the WISH Center is being so vague about reopening, I chose the alternative I thought was best for me. The lack of communication to WISH Center patients/clients appears to me to be unprofessional, unethical and insensitive to the needs of the people who have been keeping their doors open thus far. The most perturbing aspect is not making patients' files available to them. I guess that's a ploy to drag you along until they open in late October. I hope this information is helpful to other discouraged and worried WISH Center patients.

Thank you so much for the information. I have had other friends recommend NW Hospital too. I didnt know about the transfer of the psych eval and seminar. I will have to give them a call in the morning. I agree with you about the WISH Center. I am paying for my open by-pass through financing. I would be very upset if I paid for the "packaged deal" and they shut down again.(if they even re-open). Take care and GOOD LUCK! M.

I'm so glad to hear you will be able to move forward with your plans for surgery. And you are absolutely right, you have to think of yourself first and foremost. I spoke to Dr. Larry Smith a few times, as his group does the psych evaluations for the Wish Center, and he was always helpful. I know that I keep sounding flip/flop on my feelings about the Wish Center and Dr. Alperovich. It is very emotional for me. The entire WLS procedure is a very emotional event, and I spent it with Dr. A, so a part of me feels very close to him. The other part is very offended at the way this was handled. Like you I find it very unethical and unprofessional, and a trust has definately been broken. We had our company picnic today and a woman I work with came up to me all excited. She had taken the Wish Center's online seminar, and was lookng forward to making an appointment with them tomorrow. The disappointed look on her face when I told her they had closed was almost more than I could bear. I am definately going to pass Dr. Chebli's name to her. Thanks for sharing what has happened for you. Best of luck to you.

I am using Dr Chebli and I highly recommend him. His staff is great and have been super helpful. I haven't had my surgery yet but I feel very comfortable with him and would definitely recommend him!! Corinna Q

Hi Chandler, I too was working with the WISH Center in Renton and have Great West (unfortunately) as my insurance. I'd be curious to hear about your trials and problems with them in this process. You cna email me directly at: [email protected]