Dr.Halmi

I am going to have Dr.Halmi for my RNY. Was needing any and all info any1 has on him and his practice? Like how long from the siminar from time you get surgery? Is it a long process? I know my ins. doesnt want a 6mth diet..and just want like a psch. eval. and a couple other tests..so how long did it take you to get ur stuff done and get a surgery date? I have heard from other boards that my ins. is really good at aproving for WLS..so Im just wishing that it goes ok with them..Im sorry for the long post..Im just excited and worried because he is the only one that takes my insurance and he is 2hrs away from me..so any info would help. Thanks
Molly

Molly  - Drs Halmi & Tran did my surgery almost 1 year ago.  they were absolutely fabulous!  i did have to do th 6 month diet.  Once i got approved it was about 3 months til my surgery, but i'm sure every case is different.  Welcome to the VA board!  If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.  lys

Hi Molly,
My surgery is next week March 17, 2007 with Dr. Halmi and Tran. Yes you have to go to the seminar in which Dr. Halmi or Tran or both will be present to answer any questions as well as go over the process, then the insurance person will come in and have you fill out paper work. Once they receive your paper work then they will call your insurance co. to see what needs to be done, then its all go after an approval. You have to do a lot of pre-op work things like ekg, plumonary test, blood work and other test at the weight loss center, and an nutr. class. Then one final visit with Dr. Halmi and nutr. a week before you surgery. Oh once your approval you should get a date for me after I got approved it was a little over a month. If you have any other questions then let me know.
rduck

Hello and welcome to the VA board!  They did not do my surgery but I wanted to wish you luck and say hello!

Hi there - I did have Dr Halmi do my surgery and he is fantastic! The whole practise is! You will not regret that decision. I did not have to do the 6 month evaluation either and it took one month from my visit to my surgery - but it is not always that fast, I was just super prepared lol!

Feel free to ask me any questions you want to know and if I can help you, I will.....

Jackie

If you're near northern VA, I highly recommend attending Dr. Elariny's free information session in Fairfax. He does more than RNY and banding, so it's a very helpful session to learn about other WLS options. You don't have to have him as your surgeon, but his info session is, IMO, better than most.

I am having my surgery on the 7th of April with Dr Tran and Halmi office.  I can not wait wont come fast enough.  My brother in-law had his done there 2 years ago and would recommend them to everyone.  Good luck!!!!  

Your day will be here before you know it....that is a wonderful day...same day I am due to have my baby!

I just had my surgery with Dr. Tran (Dr Halmi's partner) on 2/23.  I received insurance approval on January 12th and they called that day and offered me either the 23rd or March 10th. 

My first visit (Seminar) with the office was in late November and all my insurance required was documentation of a 6 month diet in the last 5 years (I had years of Weigh****chers under my belt) and a psych consult.  The psych consult took the longest as it was three apptments - Intake/Testing/Results.   Once my insurance got that I was approved in a day.  There were alot of apptments btween the approval and the surgery though.  Pulmonologist & Sleep Study (The Pulmonologist will determine if you need the Sleep Study), Upper GI, Abdominal Ultrasound, EKG, bloodwork, clearance from Primary Care.  Plus a nutritional seminar and a one on one with the nutritionist.  If you are of a certain BMI or carry the majority of weight through your torso, you may be required to do the two week Liquid Diet pre-op.    Obviously they will go over all of this at your second visit once you have insurance approval.

I will say I was told at the very beginning that I could get either Tran or Halmi - they treat patients together.  Halmi did my seminar and Tran did my second and last visit along with my surgery and first follow-up.  I think Tran is very good.  And Dr. Halmi checked on my at the hospital the second day - he came down to Radiology to find me.   He has such a kind spirit and I really trusted him. 

The best advice I can tell you is this is a major surgery and that we as patients have a personal responsibity to find out as much as we can about the procedure, risks and the after care.  While I feel like the office did a good job of helping through the process, it still involved a lot of work on my part.  The process isn't easy (granted I have three small kids so that may have complicated things as well), but I think it's worth it!!!  Good Luck and let me know if you have any other quiestions!

Molly,  Welcome to the board and the start of a wonderful life changing journey.   Dr. Halmi performed my Open RNY in January.  I would do it again without hesitation.    His practice is awesome.  I saw Dr. Tran on one of my visits and another Dr. in his practice.   They all were well versed and hospitable.   Good luck and keep in touch!