Good Morning... questions about OHSU & Dr Deveney

I'm in SW WA and plan on having surgery in 2008.  I had planned on having surgery in Federal Way, but would like to be closer to home in case I ever have problems post op.  So I do have a couple of questions regarding OHSU and Dr Deveney. As of February 2008, I'll have insurance that covers RNY, and have a letter from the insurance company that states it.  I will not have to worry about a pre-op diet, as its not required.. whew.  I also have a FSA in place for 2008 that will cover the majority of my out of pocket fees  Having Dr Deveney as your surgeon, how long did it take from the informational session, till you got scheduled for surgery? How far out are they scheduling surgery?  (For instance, if they called me today to set up a surgery date, does it take just weeks, or months?).  Does Dr Deveney have his patients do a liquid diet before surgery?  How was your stay at OHSU?  Are the staff attentive to your needs?  Do they respond quickly if you press the button?  Is a spouse able to stay with you in the hospital?  Private rooms?  Anything else I'm forgetting to ask at the moment?   Thanks for taking the time to read my post... hope you have a great Monday!

I went to OHSU's informational seminar on 12/18/06 and had my RNY with Dr. Deveney on 6/20/07.  The length of time was primarily due to getting the necessary pre-ops done:  sleep study, psych eval, and cardiology appt (because I'm over 60).  Once the pre-ops were done and sent to OHSU, they reviewed it in one day and the insurance review took about 3-4 days.  They were scheduling out about 6 wks for surgery at that point. Dr. Deveney did not require a liquid diet.  Just nothing to eat or drink after midnight before surgery day.  They do ask you to go on a pre-op diet to get your liver's size down - for your own safety and to make it less difficult for the surgeon during the procedure. OHSU was very responsive post-surgery.  Although truthfully, I never once needed to press the nurse call button.  Someone was in to check on me frequently enough that my needs were met without doing that.  Also, I felt so good post-surgery that I just didn't need any special treatment.  I shared a room with one other woman.  I had my surgery on the morning of 6/20/07 and was sent home the morning of 6/22/07.  I have done my regular check-up appts, but have been fortunate in not having any complications.  Shirley

"Having Dr Deveney as your surgeon, how long did it take from the informational session, till you got scheduled for surgery?" Once I complete all the requirements, the packet will be sent to my insurance company for authorization.  Once that is done, then the office should contact me with the surgery date.  After that, I will be having my initial appointment with Dr. Deveney.  After that appointment, I will be attending a required class for those undergoing WLS.  Once that is completed, then surgery date! "How far out are they scheduling surgery?  (For instance, if they called me today to set up a surgery date, does it take just weeks, or months?)."  It depends largely on how booked up Dr. D. is.  At OHSU, my hysterectomy was booked for 4 weeks after my appointment with the gyn because she was already booked up for other operations during that time.  Another surgery I had was booked for just 2 weeks after their office contacted me, but had to be postponed for another 4 weeks due to illness that required antibiotics.  That was to ensure that the course of antibiotics was completed and then one week was required to clear the antibiotics out of my system prior to being anesthesized.  Each time, I already knew my surgery time at the time of scheduling and I was first in line! "How was your stay at OHSU?  Are the staff attentive to your needs?  Do they respond quickly if you press the button?  Is a spouse able to stay with you in the hospital?  Private rooms?  Anything else I'm forgetting to ask at the moment?"    With my hysterectomy, I had a private room in the Women's Health Center ward on the 14th floor because all the rooms in that ward were private to allow room for newborns' bassinets.  Each room had a padded platform against the wall to allow a family member to sleep there.  The doors were kept closed at all times for privacy reasons and to keep hospital sounds out.  The day nurses responded promptly when I pressed the call button.  On the first two second shifts, the nurses responded promptly as well.  However, with the last one, the very young nurse was very slow to respond because she was socializing with patients too much and apparently was not giving very good care.  When I had a problem, she said that she was going to get another nurse to help me.  When neither nurse returned, I got up and went to the nurse's station for help.  Fortunately, I was not injured further.  She also refused to give me an extra blanket when I requested it so I had to go to the nurse's station to request it.  One of the other nurses came in with the requested blanket and took the time to tuck it in.  The third shift nurses woke me up several times during my first night to take my vitals, but otherwise I slept throughout their shift.  I was discharged after the third night because I was recovering so well. My other surgery was a day surgery.  The nurses in the pre-op unit, PACU, and post-op unit were very attentive.  They responded promptly to my needs.  Privacy was accomplished by screens.  I was discharged from the hospital 7 hours after my admittance.

Hi, I thought I might offer my two cents.... I would totally reccommend OHSU and Dr. Deveney. I think it took me aproximately 6 months from info meeting to sugery being scheduled. This all depended on fulfilling my insurance requirements, as well as OHSU's requirements. My insurance had several requirements that might not be the same as your's. My Primary Care Physician had to prove my prior attempts at weight loss. Your approval my go smoother than mine did.  OHSU was exceptional in every way. The hospital staff work with bariatric patients regularly, they are very experienced with our issues. They have specialized equipment to deal with our size. The nurses and assistants were caring and attentive. I felt like they truely cared about my needs. My husband was allowed to stay in my room with me, I was in a room by my self, I don't know how it would have been if I shared a room. He was able to help me and be there for me.  I did a 1200 calorie diet before surgery and then liquid fast for a day or two before surgery. Dr. Deveney is an excellent surgeon. He has helped so many people. I was fearful at first, but became very confident, I asked all of the questions I needed to ask. He performed my surgery laprascopically even though my BMI was well over 60. I was so thankful for this!! Feel free to ask me any other questions you might have.  Good luck to you! Christina

I highly recom. Dr. D. and his staff , especially his Nurse Practioner Susan Fee. I concur w / the others about OHSU and the fact it'll take you awhile to do the prerequisite testing -then surgery appointment for me, was 3 weeks later. No spec. diet pre surgery except to try & lose #'s to reduce fatty liver. My hubby stayed most of the time in my room (not on a bed or anything) but slept about a mile away at Travelodge hotel that gave hospital rates. It's at bottom of Marquam Hill and on OHSU website of places to stay. Wasn't very new or etc. but was closest. Take chapstick with you!! Lips will be dry...