Question:
Kaiser Patient- Advice Needed on my Surgery Choice

I just talked with my patient representative today about my surgery. I had to appeal and am now seeing a nutritionist. I have 3 more months to go before Kaiser Permanente will cover me for surgery. My problem is that I had gone through my pre-op testing and initial consults with Dr. Kirkpatrick in DC and was initially supposed to have surgery in January but had to cancel it. However, when I went to a support group meeting the nurse Kate told me to check if Kaiser will still let me have my surgery with him. I called my Kaiser Patient Rep. and she told me that they haven't sent anyone to see Dr. Kirkpatrick in awhile and that I could possibly still have it with him but it wasn't hopeful. She told me that there are 2 other Dr.'s in the area that are under Kaiser, Dr. Lin and Dr. Arnez. I would really like to go with Dr. Kirkpatrick but if I couldn't I don't know which one I should go for. From reading the posts, I've seen that they are both competent and capable but I wouldn't know which one to decide on. I was hoping to get my surgery done shortly after I finish with my Nutritionist in May. Sorry for being so long-winded...Can anybody help with suggestions?? Thanks in advance.    — Morna B. (posted on March 7, 2003)

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