HELP .. need info for WAKE-NASH counties

I have been unemployed for months .. during which, I have made the decision to seek WLS .. I'm happy to say that I will soon begin a new great job with great benefits! Finally, the opportunity for WLS is mine! Can someone recommend a great Primary Care Physician {PCP} somewhere between Wake & Nash counties who is bariatric friendly? I need to find such a PCP so that I can choose he/she when filling out my new employment paper work for Health Insurance...

james, not sure about a pcp in the wake/nash area but i can recommend a great surgeon in nash county. dr. malik at advanced surgical associates. their website is www.advancedsurgassociates.com. good luck, adrienne

In Raleigh, Blue Ridge Family Physicians is a good place. Nia

I am also researching the WLS options. Strangely enough no one in Wake County is approved by BC/BS to do the surgery. According to Blue Cross's website the following are approved BCBS Centers of Excellence near Wake & Nash Counties: Dr. William Chapman, III Dr. Kenneth MacDonald ECU Physicians Brody Outpatient Center 600 Moye Blvd. Greenville, NC 27835 (252) 816-2207 Pitt County Memorial Dr. Wade Naziri Dr. Chris Mann Carolina Physicians, PA 2455 Emerald Place Greenville, NC 27834 (252) 758-2224 Pitt County Memorial Dr. John P. Grant Dr. Ross L. McMahon Dr. Aurora D. Pryor Duke Health System Weight Loss Surgery Ctr. 3116 N. Duke St Durham, NC 27704 (919)-660-2229 Durham Regional Hospital Dr. C. Kenneth Mitchell Pinehurst Surgical Clinic 35 Memorial Dr. Pinehurst, NC 28374 (910) 295-6831 Moore Regional Hospital (There are a few more. You can go under the Find A Dr link on www.bcbsnc.com to see the entire listing.) I have recently begun seeing Dr Carr behind Raleigh Community Hospital in Raleigh because my previous physician (who I have seen for years) does not believe in WLS regardless of my weight, which is really too bad because he was otherwise a great physician. Unfortunately when I needed his support, it wasn't there so I had to move on. Instead of hunting & pecking to find a WLS-friendly doctor - I went a backwards route. I decided 1st who was going to do my WLS first & then asked his office for a list of WLS-friendly physicians. I assumed the people in the WL surgeon's office would be in the best position to give me a listing of physicians who would approve of this type of surgery. Luckily they really do keep such a list of people. I took the list they provided & weeded out those that were not on my insurance plan & proceded from that point forward picking out a physician for me. It worked! The new physician said he would write me a letter of recommendation for the insurance company. The only 2 bariatric offices I have really checked into is Duke & Pinehurst Surgical. I have decided to go with Pinehurst Surgical. They give free info sessions 2x monthly in both Raleigh & Pinehurst to explain the process. When I went to the info sessions, the PA pointed out something that I had not thought about. WLS really is an elective surgery. The only reason I point this out is that because it is elective, you can take your time & choose the right physician, surgeon, etc that is right for you. My own belief is that it will help you have the best experience for the long haul. Good luck on whatever choice you make.