Ascension St. Vincent - Carmel Bariatrics Hospital

I met with Dr. Inman on December 11, 2000. First we met in a group setting. It was immediately apparent, no question was off limits.

Dr. Inman and St. Vincent's had an excellent support staff at the meeting. They made certain my husband and I felt totally comfortable and relaxed.

She did an excellent job of explaining the various methods of WLS. She provided visual aids to help me understand the different processes that were available. She discussed the causes of obesity. She discussed those causes that are beyond our control as well as those that ARE under our control.

The doctor discussed the possible risks as they relate to the surgery. I went in understanding most of these things, but I also understand the risk associated with staying the way I am.

She explained that WLS is merely a tool. But, she did explain is could be a permanent solution to my life-long problem.

After the group session Dr. Inman met with each of us (who were still interested) on a one on one basis. She allowed me sufficient time to get answers to any questions I had that would apply only to me. I had several questions, due to some existing medical conditions.

I found Dr. Inman to be very knowledgable and straight-forward. This is an important character trait to me. I require this, far more than I do a good bedside manner. Give me competence and self-assuredness any day! Dr. Inman is also an experienced trauma surgeon. This could come in handy!

Dr. Inman stressed the importance of St. Vincent's aftercare program. I for one am looking forward to the support meetings she discussed.

I first attended a seminar given by Dr. Inman in March 2000. She came highly recommended and I have looked into a lot of things regarding this surgery and the doctors who do them. I signed up for the surgery and sat about to wait. She only does this surgery once a week, so it takes a long time. I would call and check in about every month to see where I was on the list. In December 2000 when I called I was told Dr. Inman was having trouble with Medicare. I then recieved a letter stating that Dr. Inman had not been payed for the last 30 bariatric surgeries done on Medicare patients. This caused her to have to change her policy. It requires putting up half of her fee in cash up front, then signing a contract that you will be responsible for the remainder of the medical bills if Medicare does not pay. She will fill out all necessary Medicare forms for you and should they pay you will be reinbursed. I see Dr. Inmans point of view concerning Medicare. I hope this changes for I really liked Dr. Inman. She is a very busy surgeon but came highly recommended. I liked her a lot. I do not feel like she has been treated or in turn her patients treated fairly because of Medicares lack of service!!!!! She covered all the aspects of this surgery and what you could expect, she also was very good answering any personel questions you had. I still hope some way this Medicare stumbling block can be corrected !!!!!

I thought Dr. Inman was very "matter of fact" and confident about performing this procedure. She didn't hold anything back during the consultation, and stated many times that pre-op testing was critical, and that she would not perform the surgery on someone who did not meet the criteria. I feel very confident about her being my surgeon.

12/4/00 Met Dr. Inman. She is very down to earth and explains both procedures in depth. She accually prefers the RNY, Thank goodness. Her Statistics are really great. Makes me feel so much more at ease.

11/21/00 I have met with her staff and they are wonderful. After my experience with my own doctor, not being very compassionate, I was needing a warm, understanding voice at the other end of the phone.
I have an appointment with Dr. Inman on 12/4 @1:00pm. I can't wait

7/3/00 - My consult with Dr. Inman went well. Group meeting first. She is very confident and relaxing. Very informative. Unfortunately, she was rushed and I was the last to meet with her individually. We both decided on VBG. I only have 120lb to loose (yeah, only) and will be able to excercise again if I can get half of that off. She knew I was an RN and I have researched everything. She's very smooth, smiles, and jokes around. I like her and am looking forward to working with her. Now if the insurance will just hurry it up!
7/28/00 - Approved!!!! Made my appointments today for Psych, physical, and lab work on October 18. Surgery date will be set on Monday. The wait is going to kill me! Prior to surgery, I will have to go to Indy for a presurgery class.

7/31/00 - Vicki is great to deal with. Unfortunately due to the doctor they use for pre-op work, i'll be November before having my surgery. Dr. Inman only does this surgery on Wednesdays.

11/19/00 - Dr. Inman was great before and after the surgery. She talked to me before going in and was very positive and upbeat. She was the same after surgery. The incision is small and very neat. I have had no problems. I highly recomment Dr. Inman for this surgery.

Dr. Inman is a nice person who seems to be very experienced and has done many successful surgeries. Being 180 lbs overweight with hypertension, diabetes II, sleep apnea, mobility problems, atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries - plaque build-up), and history of many years of dieting with doctor's supervision since I was a teenager, I thought approval would be easy. Wrong!!! I was denied. Then the first appeal was denied. I asked my doctors to write letters on my behalf to send with my second appeal. Only my family doctor did. Despite calls to Dr. Inman's office and my cardiologist's office, who also said he supported the surgery, did not write letters for me. I had a time limit in which to send in the second appeal letter. My Family Doctor, Dr. Wilmot, was great! He wrote a letter stating his opinion that my obesity was life threatening and that surgery was medically necessary. Nevertheless, I was turned down on a second appeal by Anthem HMO. I became dicouraged due to the loss of my second appeal. The uncooperative attitude of Dr. Inman's office and my cardiologist's office, as well as Anthem HMO, sent me into a deep depression. I was too nice, I guess. In the end I had so much anxiety about it, I couldn't function. Any further action on my behalf became impossible due to my new illness of severe depression. I had to seek counseling and go on antidepressant medication, which Anthem HMO had to pay a small fortune for! So far they have had to pay over $5000 for counseling and medications instead of a operation that would have only cost Anthem $3500 after the HMO write-offs by doctors and hospital expenses! (I don't see how they can profit from HMOs). I am better now, and may give it another try since my insurance policy has changed from Anthem HMO to Anthem Blue Prefered. I'm not sure about going with Dr. Inman again. I think I would have to get an appology. Anthem HMO is the insurance co. from hell! I hope my new policy takes a different view. After two years of fighting the system, and doctors (With one exception), my health has deteriorated to the point that I may die before I can get any approval at all. Perhaps that's what Anthem HMO wants. It's cheaper that way! Good luck to all seeking surgery. I may have just been the one who fell through the cracks of the system, so don't give up! (I hope you don't have Indiana Anthem HMO)

I finally had my personal consultation with the surgeon. Dr. Margaret Inman...she was a very straight forward person and I really liked her for that. The staff in her office worked very hard. The first meeting was in a group session and I like that because someone may have had a question that I never thought of. Dr. Inman answered all questions and was very informative in her session. She is very professional and I know she can be friendly...but she is a very busy person...and really didn't have the time to get to know you. She emphasize a lot on aftercare...really if you had a job where you sat at a desk you could go back in 2 weeks. There is risk in everything that you do...but she has had a good overall % of low risk with her patients.

I liked the Doctor a lot, she was younger than I thought she would be, I had seen her commercials...She was very confident and really knows her stuff, she is also a trauma surgeon. She is there to do a job and she was very thourough in her explanation, and she also realizes that if you are coming to see her, you have most likely done your own research and you have your mind made up. I liked that a lot.

The staff seems nice, Vicky has been the most helpful and seems to know what is going on more than a lot of the others. Once my file was in her hands I had an approval in a few days.

Aftercare is ABSOLUTELY required for a year.

Dr.Inman was very nice . She is direct and to the point.

I have only met Dr.Inman once. She seemed very professional and confident in her skill and ability. I felt comfortable asking any necessary questions. She has a lot of experience and knowledge. Her program is very well developed and planned. She has done many surgeries with excellent results. She is not going to do the surgery if she feels it is unsafe. I feel very confident with her and would highly recommend her to anyone considering surgery. I will say that she is very busy. Her practice is growing and her staff seems sort of bogged down with the rapid pace. Be perpared to wait for surgery!