Some questions about Legacy and support groups ...

Hello everyone! I'm researching WLS ... waiting for Blue Cross to cover surgery in 2006 for PEBB. Anyway, they told me that the only place they will cover surgery is at Legacy. My question is, do you get to choose which doctor you see from Legacy or do they assign one to you? I signed up for an information class in November. But I thought I'd get your opinions first! Any advice on which doctor to see? Also, I live in Salem. If I have the surgery in Portland, is there anyplace in the Salem area that has support groups? Thanks so much for your help! Deanna

Hi Deanna, Well first there are two Legacy hospitals in Portland, Good Samaritain in NW portland and there is Emanual Legacy. I am seeing Jay Jan at Good Samaritain through the Oregon Clinic there. They also have an Obesity Institute there right next door. They work side by side to have your pre-reqs done for your apt with your surgeon and it is nice to be able to have all of your visits in one day and one place. It makes it easier. They are very nice. there are three surgeons to choose from at the Oregon clinic. If this is the same seminar that I attended they will give you a patient handbook that explains the steps and process before you meet with the surgeon. I hope this helps. Good luck on your journey to the loosing side. I am almost there---

Hi Deanna. I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and they just started carrying Legacy as a preferred provider after the first of this year. I had my surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital, and the nursing staff were just wonderful. It's a very good hospital. I had a different surgeon than the regular WLS. However, I did go see the dietician at the Obesity Clinic at Good Sam before my second surgery this past August, and she was very helpful. I specifically chose Good Sam over Providence St. Vincent (where I had my first surgery in April 2004) because Good Sam is familiar with bariatric patients. Good luck to you. I know the WLS will be a big success for you. Peg

Hi there! I am using Legacy as well, first you go to the info seminar. Then you fill out the application and send it in and they get all your insurance approval. I have blue cross blue shield federal and they so far covered everything except for the nutrition visit which was about $130. All BCBS plans are different but they will check and let you know. Then you have two half day appointments. The first you do blood work, height, weight, ekg and psych testing which takes about four hours. Then you have another half day of testing which you see the NP, psych, physical theripist and dietician.......this takes about four-five hours. If you haven't had a sleep study in the last two years you have to do that too. Since you live in salem you could probably have it done close to where you live or up at good sam. The obesity center in attached to good sam hospital and that is where they do all the surgeries. Once you do all that and they get all the results then they send your chart over to the surgeons office. You can pick which one you want, Dr. Patterson started the clinic and she has the longest wait time. I'm seeing Dr. Hong and they is also a Dr. Jay. They all trained with Dr. Patterson so I think they are all qualified. As long as your insurance approval is quick it takes 2-3 months from the time you start till you have surgery. Hope that helps!