How long does it take...

I know that I need to let go and let God.... however, I'm wondering if what I am going through is "normal". How long does it normally take most folks to get a surgery date arranged with your surgeon's nurse once you find out you are approved through insurance? It's been 6 weeks from when I found out that I was approved through my insurance company to have surgery. It took the surgical group/hospital another 5 weeks to determine that they had the authorization. Then, one week ago, the nurse started initiating calls to set up my surgery date. She has all of my contact numbers, but apparently doesn't have the time to dial but just one.... she winds up leaving a message for me, usually at my work number, and I might not get it until the next day. Every time that I return her call, she is ALWAYS too busy to speak to me and states that she'll call me back the next day. We've had a WHOLE WEEK of phone tag!!!!! As I know that everyone is aware, getting your surgery date is a really BIG DEAL! Not only for my knowledge, but, for that of my family, boss, co-workers, etc. My job is pretty demanding and I need to have as much time as possible to get my schedule restructured once I get a date. The OTHER component to this is that she is fully aware that I may not have insurance coverage for weight loss surgery after 6/30/05 due to my employer's plan revision. Now, I know that sometimes one doesn't make it through pre-admission's testing and sometimes, surgery has to be rescheduled. My anxiety comes from the thought of her messing around long enough that I'll wind up not being able to have my surgery in time!!! Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Karen

Karen, Do you have a letter documenting that you have been approved from your insurance company? I am sure that you have done this if you do have it. Fax it to your surgeons office. I got my letter, faxed it to the Bariatric Center at OSU and had my consultation call that day from the surgeon. I saw my surgeon on May 2nd and had my surgery last week. I feel your frustratation. Just bug the crap out of her. Ask to talk to the office manager. Good Luck... I will be thinking of you .... Julie

Karen, HIRE A LAWYER, do it TOMORROW... have him/her send a certified letter to your surgeon's office explaining the problem you've been having....the lawyer can also explain the insurance deadline. That should move things along...it might even work to have the lawyer call the office first!!! Don't wait anoother moment, this is totally ridiculous and unfair to you!! Liz Hillsboro

WHEN I LEARNED I HAD THE OK FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY, I FOUND OUT - AT THE SAME TIME - WHEN MY "SURGERY DATE" WAS. IT'S A PHONY DATE, BUT ONE CLOSE TO WHERE YOU SHOULD GET A DATE. MY SURGEON'S OFFICE CALLED ME WITH THE APPT TO MEET WITH HIM. I CALLED FOR MY 4 WEEK NUTRITION CLASS AND HAD IT DONE IN TIME FOR MY SURGERY. SO, ON MARCH 16TH I FOUND OUT I WAS APPROVED, MY SURGERY DATE (THEN IT WAS 5/6/05 BUT AFTER MEETING THE DOC, IT WAS CHANGED TO 5/9/05) AND MY DOCTORS APPT DATE. YOU ARE GETTING A RUN AROUND FROM YOUR SURGEON'S NURSE. CALL SOMEONE ELSE IN THE OFFICE AND ASK FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO TALK TO ABOUT YOUR DATE. OR WRITE THE SURGEON DIRECTLY, PRINT PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL ON THE ENVELOPE. MIGHT WORK. GOOD LUCK. HUGS, SUSIE

Hi Karen One thing I will be talking about this weekend at the OH conference is chosing the right doctor. What you are going through is one of the things that just sends me off the edge. I know there are other centers that will get you scheduled knowing the deadline exist. ..the greater Cincinnati area is full of incredibly gifted surgeons you do not have to deal with the incompetent office staff, if you are not satisfied with your service then move along..you are after all a consumer, take charge of this situation! Once you have your approval from the insurance you can change to another doc without a hassle.. I work as a patient advocate in this area and would be glad to help you find the doc that is right for you... I will be gone Fri-Sun ..but I will be glad to help you out when I return.. Brenda

Call the doctor's office and ask to speak to the office manager. Explain to the manager that your insurance may not cover the procedure after 6/30/05 due to a change in benefits/carrier and that it is VERY important that the nurse get ahold of you as soon as possible with a surgery date before 6/30/05 due to this. Give the manager the phone numbers and times you will be at those numbers - give her a cell phone number and leave it on 24/7 and tell them to call THAT number only so that your able to speak to someone. Sometimes by going over the nurse's head to her boss, gets them to move a little faster. Since you have already been approved, it just takes the nurse a phone call to set up with the hospital to arrange the time since doctors operate on certain days and the nurse already knows what days those are.