Extremely frustrated

I am so upset. None of these offices are returning my phone calls. I leave a message asking if they received my post-opertive notes from my lap-band? No response. I've tried to talk to other people and I just get sent to the same answering machine.

My insurance covers this surgery. I checked on that and have told them that.

I have not heard back from any of them.

I want a revision as soon as possible because the band is causing severe reflux and I'm afraid it has slipped. No meds are working.

Also, my insurance plan will end in April.

Do I just keep leaving messages?

I work in the medical field and I am appalled at how these bariatric centers are being run. This is beyond substandard. Someone tells you they think their band has slipped and you need to move on it fast and they ignore you?

I'm just going to let it go for now.

 Ick!  that is frustrating.  Do you have to work with these people?  What happens if you have (God forbid) a further complication, post-revision?  Will they also delay to respond to your needs?

Some folks leave town for their surgeries.  If there's no one in W-S, it's worth the trip, maybe...

Good luck with all this!

 yep..what Rosa said...  Also .. don't they ANSWER the phone sometimes ? if the clinic is located in a hospital U can call the operator and ask about those hours and just show up .  Thats what I would do ...show up at the beginning of the clinic  and  put my name down as if i had an appt .   Pretty much guarantees U get in  to see the doctor . 

I love Ava's idea but you have to know when the surgeon is in the office and taking patients. They spend a lot of time at the hospital doing surgery. lol 

I think I'd keep calling Duke every couple of hours until you got humans on the line to talk to. The staff there is not all that good but Dr Sudan is worth getting a consult with.

Good luck!

--gina

What about your PCP or family doctor.  Maybe their office could get you in.  Working in the medical field you must know a doctor/nurse who knows the surgeon well enough to talk to him.

Do you have an email address for anyone in the bariatric dept? If so try that too. If no luck, I would be looking for another center. I can always reach a nurse or a fellow at the Cleveland Clinic 24-7. Which I find very reassuring.
Maria

Find out which department takes care of release of medical records. Before the records can be released to you or another provider, you MUST sign a release of information. It is the law. Once the release is signed, your records can be released. Some facilities it is the business office or medical secretaries. Signed releases have to be done first.

I signed the release form for NC Baptist hospital. They called and asked me to send the post-operative notes. I sent those. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to see Dr. Sudan because they can't even manage to send me a packet, although I have requested one 4 times.

I would just like to touch base about the process.

I wonder if people are on vacation and that is why I'm getting stonewalled? If that is the case it would have been nice to have had that on the answering machine.

I work in the lab, so I don't interact with doctors/nurses, also I'm night shift. I  work at a different hospital and our facility does not allow the physicians to do bariatric surgeries any more.

I  like the idea of showing up there to get some answers to what is going on.

I'm going to look into Dr. MacDonald's practice too. He is getting very good reviews.

Thanks for the help

I finally broke through and was able to talk to the contact person.

She said my file is going to be reviewed tomorrow and I should know something by Monday or Tuesday next week.

I'm ready to get this show on the road.