Can anyone tell me about DR.WILLIE MELVIN

All i know is he is at Vanderbuilt Hospital.Has anyone had him for thier surgeon and if so can you please advise me on something about him.Thank you Eva

If he's at Vanderbilt, that pretty much speaks for itself. He must be pretty good.

Eva honey, I don't think I have read of anyone on this board having him. Remember now I am the one going for the record of denials in two months. Just because he works at Vandy, doesn't mean he's a good Dr. maybe that's why no one has gone to him. I know you want the lap, but if it were me, I would really check him out first before commiting to him. Call the AMA if need be. He may not be a wls surgeon. Be careful and know you are in my thoughts. Luv ya sugs, Kathy

Hi Kathy, I know,my tenncare case manager gave me his name and he is suppose to take tenncare and he is a bariatric surgeon,but i have not seen his name on the boards either.So i am waiting now to find out if i will be able to even see him b/c when my pcp DR.'s office called him yesterday they were told that he does not take tenncare.So they need to get it straighten out first.It is just a money game and then all the waiting.If DR. HRUSKA in clarksville had done the surgery for me i would have had a date by now but we know how that ended.So still looking you and i are in the same boat with all this waiting.Good luck to you Kathy and keep me posted on your journey. Eva

Hi Eva, let's go for the record. Medicare and Tncare gave me names of Dr.'s that do the surgery, only one actually does it, the others didn't. I call it a power play, by all means. Here is the number of the case management that will assign a case manager to you. This person will help with the Dr.'s, the insurance problems, and will be assigned you for the time on one year after surgery or until you no longer need them. Dixie Flower at my request has posted on the board, call 1-800-225-8698. They got back to me within 30 hours. In fact mine called earlier but I never heard the phone, I was asleep. But I would really check this Dr. out, I know he's not in the find a doc section except his name. Best of luck sweetie, there's one out there for you and will take your insurance. Luv to you, Kathy

Eva, Dr. Melvin is my surgeon. My date is Sept. 13. He seems very nice and I talked to a couple of people at the Vandy support group and they raved about him. Donna

A very good friend of mine had Dr. Willie Melvin. She didn't have any problems or complications. While visiting her in the hospital, I was impressed when he visited her. He seemed very concerned and very professional. He did an open-hand assist. Her incision was about 4-5 inches. When she calls his office with a concern or issues, he calls her back. He seems to really care.

Hi Eva, Dr. David Dyer of Centennial Hospital does lap band, and has worked with Blue Care. I was just checking on a surgeon and ran across him. He also does the revision later when needed. Best of luck, let me know what you find out. I am to attend Dr. Houston's seminar on Sept. 21, and Dr. Oxley's on the 20th while I'm in Nashville. I'm off to bed, getting a bronchial infection. ya, Kathy