Barix Belvidere

I called Barix this AM as I just heard about this last night. I am very upset and feel abandoned. I was promised that I would have my follow up for lifetime and now I don't. My support group is gone. along with the many wonderful people I met through there. I also have had health issues - 4 bowel obstructions and when I saw Dr. Boe for my 4 year follow up he said to come directly to him if I experienced any pain so he could check it out. They are referring to Dr Rosen in Downers Grove and someone in Peoria for follow up. What you need to do, Contact Barix ASAP and get full and complete copies of all of your medical records. If you are due for any follow up get in there asap. they said Dr. Boe will be in the office for a couple more months. Barix is closing bcause they have too few patients. i think it probably started when they had the conflict w/ BCBS and did not renew their contract several years ago. When I had my surgery they were doing 40 surgeries a week, 4 surgeons working there. then the BCBS thing happened and business really dropped off. then when they settled with BCBS it never grew again. Dr. Schlessinger moved to AZ to open a new hospital. then Dr. Berkowitz retired and neither was ever replaced. Dr. Vaughn moved on to a new job. that left Dr Boe alone there, and most likely 1 Dr. can't generate enough revenue to keep the place going. I'd like to know why Barix didnt get in some more Drs and do some advertising. Poor business management. The brand new AZ hospital also closed down after only a short time. Maybe they tried to expand too fast. I don't know, it is all speculation on my part. I left a message for Barb who was the support group leader, and hopefully she will call me back and we can get a group going so we don't lose that support. If anyone else wants to participate or help let me know. I am so upset, I have been crying.

is this in belvedere illinois...between rockford and chicago? (i lived west of rockford) i went there in 1999 and was denied because of insurance. ex husband re enlisted in air force and got it paid then. if this is the same place...they didnt have much business then. sorry to hear about your troubles. good luck tammy

In 2002 when I had surgery they were operating at capacity - 40 surgeries a week. every bed was full.

I had the surgery there 9/6/2001. At that time they were operating at full capacity, resulting in need to hire more staff. (By the way - even at full I was given the utmost care... they all made a very difficult surgery an endurable ,life-changing experience...) In March 2002 I started a NW Indiana BTC Support group. Monthly we topped room capacity until 2004. (often running 45 - 55 in local county library meeting room) At that point attendance dwindled - and particularly noticable: no new people (new Preops heading to surgery or no new Post-ops - immediate post surgery)in almost a year. Our theory: the surgery was much more easily obtainable locally - surgeons all over our immediate area were now advertising and performing RNYs. Coupled with the BCBS insurance drama w/ Barix - we knew there was a decline in our 4 county area, just didn't know how much... It appears that Belvidere BTC (now Barix) experienced: "feast or famine" so to speak. weird... I guess they were there when many of us needed it most.

Here's a curiosity question...did you have to pay an extra flat "fee" to ensure "lifetime" follow-up? If so, I would think you have recourse for getting at least a portion of it back. I'm especially sorry you are losing the support group. I made sure a support group was the first thing checked off my list when we transferred. Support group will make or break me. Good luck to you! Julie

The lifetime followup was part of the surgical fees. It was all rolled together. I will miss the PEOPLE in the support group that I bonded with - i drove 45 each way minutes to the meetings for the PEOPLE!

Hi Willow! I'm so sorry that you are going through this. It really is about the people you have met and developed a rapport with. I can't imagine being without my support group or my surgeon. Don't cry! Something will work out for you. That would be great if you can get a support group going. Are you a grandma yet?? Hugs. Lucy

Hi Lucy! I have been meaing to write. No grandbaby yet - My daughter is ready to pop - sunday was the due date. My 5 y/o granddaughter who had seen a child birth video layed down on the couch and pretended she was giving birth and said "mom, If you want to have the baby you have to do this!" didn't you go to the Kanes and Guski? Barix is referring to Rosen who I hear is wonderful - but Downers Grove is a long way if I get sick, have another bowel obstruction etc that needs checked out in an emergency. I am looking into my options so I will be prepared if something goes wrong. I would lijke to meet the Drs before I have a problem so I have a lot of phone calls to make. At least I am good at taking my healthcare into my own hands, I feel even more sorry for those who are not experienced in navigating through the health care system. If I cant get something with my old suppor t group I will need to find a new one. Are other groups open to people who did not have surgery there? Ours was open to anybody and sometimes did have people from other programs.

Hi Val. Yeah, I had Dr. Guske for my surgery. He's with the Kane group. They are all great surgeons in the group. Our support group meets the 3rd Friday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Cancer Institute right at Alexian Brothers. I also go to another support meeting from ENH on the first Monday of the month at 7 pm. It's held at the ENH offices in Lincolnshire - in the shopping mall where there is a Kohl's, right off of Milwaukee Avenue, just before the shopping mall on route 60. Both groups are open to everyone. The only thing is with the Kane group, the support meetings cost $10.00. If you ever want to go, let me know. I like what your granddaughter said. So cute! Hopefully by this weekend you will be a grandma again. Did I tell you that I lost 5 pounds last week? OMG, I couldn't believe it. Tomorrow's my job interview so we'll see how it goes. Then, Thursday my appointment with Madry. I'm feeling better. I had to wear a smaller size support garment because today I was losing my bandages that were previously held up by the support garment. They were falling down and not holding the areas of the seromas. I'm back into my garment size just after surgery. So I think the swelling is going down. Brrr, it's so cold. I had to drink some chicken broth when I got home. I'll let you know how my interview goes. Take care. Lucy

Hey Willow ... that is such a drag ... I feel a little abandoned buy my group too (they became part of the physicians group instead of associated with the hospital, their coding is different, and now insurance won't pay for most visits -- but at least I know that they are still there). http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070119/NEWS0101/101190022/1005/NEWS0101 Hopefully you'll get your support group up and running again ... one advantage to being in this area is that there are a lot of good bariatric surgeons in the Chicagoland area. Karyn