Getting frustrated w/ Surgeons office

Hello everyone! This is my first post on the GB forum as I have just recently decided against the lap band! I am getting so excited about my impending surgery, but very frustrated at the same time. You see, my surgeons office is very slow to respond to any of my calls. The office has not once called me first regarding any issues/ appointments/ etc. I have had to initiate all correspondence. I feel like I am having to beg to have my surgery. I have called my insurance case manager three times on my own. I know I have insurance approval at this point. I just can't get the surgeons office to realize this or schedule my surgery. I have completed all requirements (PCP weight history, psych eval, fitness eval, EGD, Nut. eval, support group meeting). I started this process w/ the WLS info. session on June 9th. I just wondered if anyone else have similiar issues w/ delayed communication w/ their surgeons office? I am just ranting on and on but I feel better getting it out! Maybe I will hear something from the office tomorrow

Hi. Sorry to hear about your frustrations with the surgeon's office.  Most of us have had similar experiences.  My feeling is if they are doing so well with surgeries that they don't have the staff to deal with new patients, then they need to hire more staff.  What I have done when really frustrated is to refuse to get off the phone until I spoke with a human being nad refuse to leave a voicemail message.  Just keep escalating.  Right before my last hospital admission (I had several complications), as I was becoming ill and couldn't get anyone to answer my calls, I finally waited util the office was closed and then called the emergency on-call doc and explained that I had tried to get a call back all day from the office and needed medical attention.  (I was hospitalized for a week the next day.) I certainly understand your frustration.  That was one of the most difficult aspects of having this surgery to date!  Congratulations on getting your approval.  I'm sure you will be scheduled soon.  Keep us posted!

I am going through the same Bariatric group you are and have had similar problems. They are in the process of moving offices and adding staff to fix that issue but in the meantime I've gotten email addresses of my surgeon (i have a different one than you but its probably [email protected]), and some of the staff there. I usually get a reply within a day or two but sometimes it's late in the evening. Have you gotten your approval letter in the mail from insurance? Sometimes there is a delay between the decision and the doc's office receiving that letter. It may help for you to take your copy in and show them?

Im sorry you are having problems. I had problems with my surgeons Bariatric Coordinator. I called and called and complained and had to initiate everything. She was slack, would not even know WHO I WAS and basically does not give a crap about if you get your stuff done or not. If I had not taken charge I would still be sitting around wondering when my testing would begin. All I have to say is TAKE CHARGE CALL THEM OVER AND OVER AND OVER TILL YOU GET ANSWERS... I would not let some idiot who cant do her job dictate how my testing process would be going and because of this I got everything done quickly and I am now 12 days post op and Im so happy its over with!! My grandmas favorite answer is *A squeaky rocker always gets noticed* and it is SOOO true!!

Best of luck~
Darcie

You are one person dealing with their office... they are one person dealing with many patients. I could tell by the posts on here many people go "psyco" over the process and drive their Drs office insane. I use to work at a Drs office (we had 4 Drs total) and let me tell you what an adventure it was. I know its hard to wait and hear back and all that... but keep in mind how busy they are.  My surgeons office never called me about issues/appointments etc... they didnt have to because I kept with everything myself. You said you have insurance approval... so you have received a letter in the mail? Did your insurance fax it to your surgeon as well?? Typically the surgeons will call within a few days of getting the letter to schedule (usually the patient finds out first). I would allow 24-48 hours for a response from the surgeons office for any non-urgent issues... if its beyond that ask to speak to the office manager and address your concerns with them.

Everyone, thanks for all of your words of encouragement! My constant calls paid off as today I finally received a surgical date!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, happy dance!! I am scheduled for December 4th. I cannot believe it. Now it seems so real. I cannot wait to start my new life.

That is awesome!! Congrats!!!