Totally Frustrated!

I'm beginning to think the Weight Loss Center at Duke is completely disfuctional and putting me off.  It's been several weeks ( approximately 5) since I've completed all of the required steps. I call at least 2-3 times a week only to be ignored. No return phone call, nothing. I have BCBSNC so I know the insureance isn't the problem. All of my other tests were fine as well as my visits with the nut and the pyschiatrist. I plan on paying them an in person visit tomorrow and hopefully I will get some answers or better yet a date. Afterall I was told there was only 11 people in front of me back in early July.

Has this happened to anyone else here?  Please I need some advice as I'm coming to the end of my rope as far as my patience is concerned.


Rhonda

Rhonda,

As you may have noticed by my avatar, I had my surgery at Duke more than 3 years ago and my husband had his through them about a year and half ago. I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing so much difficulty with the program at Duke. They have had issues in the past, but I thought that those had all been resolved. While Duke  is known to have front office 'issues' or problems at the front end, that is, before folks actually have their surgery, they are also well known to provide excellent medical care before, during and after surgery. I know that the process has undergone some significant changes as they have tried to make improvements and have moved much of the scheduling to Duke's central scheduling.  If you are unable to get the communication that you need after you go by and to talk with them today, I would suggest that you contact their patient advocate office and let them know of your concerns and what you have tried to do to resolve the issues. They have stepped in to resolve issues in the past and I'm sure would step in to help you now. 

Wishing you all the best,

Barbara,

Thank you  for your advice this morning. I used the patient advocate office card today when I stopped by to get some answers. Low and behold, I am on the list to be called this week. But I went ahead and voiced my complaint to the powers to be in hopes this doesn't happen to someone else.
So all in all, I don't have a date but I have been appproved by BCBS. Hopefully by Wednesday I will have a date. Again, thank you for supporting and getting back to me so quickly.

Rhonda

Yes, it happened to me and I suggest you be persistent. I know it is frustrating but it is totally worth it! I finally stopped being so nice and would ask if I could speak to someone that had the authority to get my file out and see where the glitch was. Again, it is so totally worth it, but during the time I waited I read the manual a zillion times, joined support groups, read books written by people who had the surgery, stayed on line and took notes, etc.  I think this is one of the reasons I am successful 20 months out. I have seen so many people regain or not come near their goal and I think not being informed or ready is the reason. These are the people that want to know how soon they can drink soda again or where they can buy sugar free cakes and brownies. I guess I think too many people are rushed and not prepared. Hang in there.
Deb

Deb,

I so understand the your frustration with those patients who get the surgery then eat and drink whatever they like by week 5. I have a friend that is this way and it drives me insane. She's been given a second chance and she is blowing it. I know yesterday at the pool she ate more on her plate for lunch than I did. Her excuse was, "well it's soft" and  "I can have a wine cooler just not over do it." Mind blowing I know. It just makes me more determined to do what I'm suppose to do and how I'm going to better off in the long run.

After getting my point across this morning at the office, I was told I would have my date by Wednesday of week. We will see.

Thanks for your support.

Rhonda

I completely understand  I am in the same boat with you but with a different facility. It is about to drive me to drink. The only thing is I know the dr's office didnt submit anything to my insurance  and I am positive. So I spoke to her today finally  I think she realized I know she was the problem. Told me to wait just a few more days.   (maybe she actually submitted it today) I have also been waiting 5-6  weeks

On another note: I am sure that since my minutes seem like hours waiting that maybe her look on the surgery isn't as important as mine.  But with the girl I am working with it is hard to see how the doctors keep patients coming in  and on the books for surgery.

I have often thought about switching doctors - and the think I have came so far to start all over. I just wish I would have gotten a better patient coordinater.

If I dont get any more information in 2 weeks I will be sending a certified letter to  the office manager- I really need to have my surgery before OCT 1.  If it cant happen -- I will have to put everything on hold again.  I have to put deposits down because of my insurance and the calander year starts new in Oct.

I'm on a limited time frame too. I've been out of work since June 28th with slipped discs. I had not planned on this and was saving my time for my gbs. Now if I don't have it soon, I will have to wait another year and re-do all of my tests. Good luck on getting your date.

Rhonda

Rhonda hopefully things are looking up for us. I can electronically view my insurance status. After calling the other day and talking to the person who sends it in. They magically received it. It says they are processing. So hopefully I will get some news crossed. Fingers crossed for me and you,

Amanda

OMG, this is something I really dont want to hear, I will be attending the seminar tomorrow at Duke, my current surgeon is relocating, I am a very anxiuos person, please say it aint so..(lol) I dont wanna be blowing up Duke's phone..

Dear Worl,

Patients experience with Duke varies. I run a LARGE support group and have heard from many, many patients that have gone to Duke. Some have had issues, many have not. I haven't met anyone who wished they hadn't done it. I even have some members of my group that are married and both spouses have had WLS, sometimes one had it at Duke and the other elsewhere. One of the comments I have gotten from those who have had experience with Duke and some of the other programs in the area are that while their front office can be infuriating, their overall program is the most robust in the area. I don't know if that helps or not. I kept copies of every single test, report, etc... that was submitted to them so that I had hard copies of everything. I kept a notebook with names of people I talked to, what was done, who had it, where it was going, what the next steps were, etc... I would ask what the process was so that I would know what to expect. I also asked them to give me an anticipated timeframe; that way if something took 10 days and I knew that it normally took that long to get a report done, it didn't drive me crazy. If it went 15 days, I knew that there was likely some glitch. I hope that helps some. 

Wishing  you all the best, no matter which program you decide to use. BTW... it might be reasonable to to ask them what their process is and what the timeline looks like when you see them.