Back With Dr. Dyer....And What A Ride!!!

You know sometimes you can feel like a nut and then sometimes you can look like one. Well, I was both. As some of you knew I had chosen Dr. Dyer as my surgeon, having Medicare as my primary and all. Well there was a little bit of a problem with him and Medicare for a brief moment. I called and he was not sure that he was going to even accept Medicare patients any more, so I left and tried to go to another facility. Well, it just plain old didn't work out at the other place. So, I called Dr. Dyer's office today and spoke to Joanna and she told me that he is accepting Medicare patients and she also explained about Medicare's new requirement of the 6 month physician supervised diet. She was so sweet and kind I do believe she was appauled when I told her what had happened at the other facility, but she put the start date of my diet in their database and told me when I was finished with it to call them back so I could get scheduled for surgery........WOW! But what a ride that was, it actually made me sick . I still have yet to actually ask the other facility once again to cancel all apointments and to please send all records back to either my PCP or Centennial. For some reason they don't want to do this and has went so far as to lie to me and tell me that they are the only Bariatric Center of Excellence in Tennessee, I know better than that. But I'm not stressing this too hard at the moment as you can see. I will get to the bottom of the situation regardless. Well all, just wish me all the best! I will eventually reach the losers bench. Just a little time. Diane

Thats great news Diane! Though Dr. Dyer isn't my surgeon, I know he is very reputable! You're in great hands thats for sure! I can't believe the other facility told you that crazy lie! Oh well... I hope other people realize there are lots of options in this area. Good luck to ya! april

Those medical records are YOURS. They are about you so you have control over them. Its called HIPPAA.,.. something I'm sure the "other place" has heard of... You sign a relase of information telling them to release your records to the new office. I would have them sent to PCP, and later you can get PCP to send to Dr. Dyer. Some may have another suggestion but that sounds the best in my mind at the moment since PCP will be supervising diet... If you write it on a piece of paper, they still have to do it. Now they might charge you to do it and they are allowed to do that... but I would just go to PCP's office, say I need to fill out a request form for my surgeon to release info to you, and they hafe them, or you can sign your name, date of birth, ss# sometimes, and say please release all of my medical records to (Dr. so and so, address, phone number). It also wouldn't hurt to have a witness when you sign it... so you sign and date, and so does your witness, then you can mail it to them, some take faxes. I would just call and ask to speak with the medical record person. Perhaps they will be nicer to you. If they give you grief, say "to my understanding, I have a right to request my records to be sent to my doctor". I guess you can always threaten to call Medicare and file a complaint, or the insurance commissioners.

I'm so glad you are able to go back to the surgeon you really wanted. The other facility told you they are the only Center for Excellence in TN? What bunk!! The 6 month diet will pass quickly and you will be ready to join the rest of us losers! Keep us posted on your progress. Susan

Good morning Diane!! Gee ,I wonder where you went after you were told Dr Dyer was not taking any Medicare pateints for awhile till they got this misunderstanding taken care of?? what in the world happended to this "other" place that made you go right back to Dr Dyer and take the chance again , that he just might be taking Medicare again???What do you mean it just plain did not work out?? After all, you had already begun the process and they were a Center of excellence that accepted Medicare... Lol .so funny though,because so many hospitals in Nashville are a Center of Excellence, but the trick is the surgeon who operates must be on the ASBS board AND accept Medicare as most ASBS surgeons only operate out of Centers of Excellence.. Dr Dyer is my surgeopn and he is just great.... an excellent surgeon with lots of experience and he will take the best care of you care of you, you are in the very best of hands and I am glad you went back to him! Congratulations!, If you are able, go to the facility where you began your tests and all.. and sign a releaseand date it (ask for a release) and hand it to whoever is in charge of medical records and speak directly to that person, if they give you alot of grief, tell them you are calling Medicare and reporting them unless they cooperate, you just want all your records, which you are entitled to and if you must ..carry out that threat and call call call.. I just love Johanna she is a sweet wonderful helpful lady! tell Medicare you need help in filing a complaint and explain only the facts but get all the important facts in. Also, make sure you have a written list of everyones names and exactly who you talked to and what they said and on what date , always ask who you are speaking to ... names very important and do it >>>

LOL Arrianna... we all know where she went!

bwaaaaaahahahahahahaha!! You are so bad!

Yall are both soooooooooo Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaadddd!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL, Yes I think most if not all of you know where "the other place" is or in my case was....lol It sounds like some kind of threat doesn't it?! "The other place" I am so happy to have people like you to be there for me in times like these. It is so comforting to know that we have each other even when we make some blinded mistakes, which is what I did this time. At least we are all acting like adults and I really do appreciate all of your advice. I now know how to firmly handle the situation now! Diane

Susan you can appreciate this one since you were involved with the "other place" post yesterday...the overall thing I was trying to say is that there are wonderful facilities and surgeons out there... and where one may think is the "best" may not be someone else's opinion of "best". This is a place where we all connect regardless of our surgeons name, affiliation, etc. so when I see a huge write up about one place, it looks like an advertisement... I guess that's what stuck in my craw the most... and every dr's office is different on the dietary restrictions that they give to their pateints... but thats not to say they are better, or worse... and its not right to think someone didn't research or do their study because they chose a smaller facility. Anyway, glad to hear you are doing better and found a place where you feel like you can be cared for and will help you change your life.