Duke Problems

I have my appointment with Duke 3 1/2 months out and I am planning to see the head of the practice and decide on contacting 5 on your side to let the public know how bad things are. This is only to get changes made for those that are now in their WLS journey and are not aware of all the issues when they make their choice. I have recently had another problem with BCBS denying the pre-op group and post op group, that Duke was aware of and said nothing. Now 3 months later Duke is looking for more money. They need to get their act together.
If you want to post a comment I will be taking them to the office to enlighten them on the bad publicity that is going on and how dissappointed we are with the post op care. I will put it in a document and you will be anonomous. I just wanted them to be aware of all the common problems.
Thanks
Audra

Hey Audra!  I applaud you for this bold move! 

My problems stopped before they began with Duke.  I applied for WLS in November 2009.  I did not hear one word boo from them until February 2010!  And when I did here from them it was to tell me that I was "lucky" and I was approved. 

I told them thanks, but no thanks... I need much more customer service than that.  I had moved to my current doctor in January... a full month before hearing back from Duke.

So for me, the drama with them was over before it began!

Thanks for taking up this cause for the rest of us!  Let me know if there is any other way I can help...

Lisa

Audra, So very sorry! I  thought things like this only happened to me.

Has anyone heard anything negative with the WLS (staff) at the North Carolina Baptist Hospital (Winston)? Thanks!

I was never told there was a charge for the group, so I never had the opportunity to find out if my insurance would pay.  Turns out they don't.  I talked to Kristy and she said "We've never had this issue before."  yaddayaddayadda.  Now I've got to pay them out of pocket, too.  I cancelled my next "group" and will not be attending another one.  Being a DS patient, the one I did attend was a huge waste of my time as they just spouted off RNY and band info anyhow.

Good luck getting anywhere with this!

I have to say I let them go as an option before it began as well. I tried to inquire about if the VSG is done within their practice and they told me I couldnt get any information without coming to the seminar first.... which of course was booked 6 or 7 months out at the time. The attitude from the person on the phone was rude and abrupt and I realized this was not a place I would be able to trust.

Which surgeons and how do you know?  (Feel free to pm me if you don't want to post it publicly.)

Thanks!

I did meet with the head of the office and the nurse manager last week. They seemed very concerned and listened to all I had to say. I hope they will now take the steps needed to improve their post op care. This is technically only a problem if you had a complication and need more than those that had a smooth recovery. I was pleasantly surprised to see how upset my surgeon was with the situation. He had no idea I had any problems after the third dilation, and was never told I had gone to a specialist and had been at Rex twice. He is the one that got the upper people in to speak to me. His name is Torquati if you need another surgeon to see.
I am going to be optimisti****il otherwise experienced.
Good luck
Audra