Weight Loss Surgery - Got another referral....so how do I check out the Doc?

Hi All,

Still waiting to see a doctor and consult about the surg. First doc, who I called in Jan couldn't get me in for informational meeting until Aug, is no longer affiliated with a local hospital and they've cancelled the program. Wonder what happened there....

I have a new ref. but when I checked on obesityhelp.com the doc wasn't listed. I checked the hospital he's affiliated with lists him as a vascular surg. Has anyone ever paid for one of those background checks of doctors? Luckily, I work at one of the hospitals he uses but I'd like more background on him.

Any advice?

Deb

I ordered one of the paid reports on a doctor once. I believe it was $10 and a total wastr of money. The information was incomplete and I found more by spending a little time online. I would try to use some of your local connections at the hospital.

Good luck.

P's advice was GREAT... and let's go another couple of steps... what do you know about the program at the hospital? how long has it been around? what are the support groups like? talk to some of the patients.

ask how many surgeries he's done. and how many have died. and how many have had complications and what they were and how he fixed them. more later. gotta scoot

Thanks for the pointers. Shame of it is, I've worked at the hospital almost a year and haven't thought to ask any of those questions. Shoot, I don't even know what color scrubs the nurses in that department wear. I do know, however, that the hospital has just built an entire new wing to handle the surg. Not sure if it's all baratric surg. but I've hear the rumors. The hospital is also applying for magnet status- supposed to be a blue ribbon thing or something - not too many hospitals have it. Hospital is graded on patient care, organization, etc. All I know is that it's been hectic there.

I also went on Amazon.com to check out what books there are to offer. Best part was the recommended list.....think there are about 10 books on surg. and after surg. I printed the list and I'm going to the library!

Deb

Bad news....surg. that I had a referral too was my primary doctor's solution to actually finding a surg. to refer me too. They had no idea what to do, according to the woman that handles the insurance ref. Great. So, they wanted me to go to a surg. that had nothing to do with this procedure and ask for a referral. Sounds kind of dumb. Well, will have to play it by ear. Just wondering if there is a way to get around this with the insurance company. I mean, if they don't have a surg. on their program shouldn't they allow me to go outside of their list and find someone? How far could they make me travel in order to find someone on the plan?

Sorry, just venting. Hope everyone is doing well.

Deb

huh???? this makes no sense to me.. but since when did insurance companies make sense????

let me get this straight: you have a referral from your PCP to an in-network surgeon who doesn't do the procedure, and this in network surgeon will actually 'verify' that this surgery is a good idea and that the insurance company should pay for it and that this surgeon will refer you to someone who'll actually DO the surgery?????????

or have i missed something here???

Nope.....it's that neither my PCP or the woman that handles referrals knows of a doctor that does the surg. His idea was that he refer me to a general surg and have that surg. refer me to a biatric surg. Sounds stupid to me. I know that I have at least 3 docs that will write a letter of support for me. Just love the run around. Seems like people just don't want to do there jobs. Granted, I need to do some research but I don't know where to begin......my insurance book doesn't have any listings for a biatric surg.

Deb

have you checked out www.asbs.org? they have a list of members by state. and to qualify as a member, you have to have done at least 100 surgeries. that's no guarantee, but at least it's a start.

and obesityhelp.com has info on docs as well.. and patients often post their experiences with a particular doc...

let us know...