I am considering LAP-BAND®® @Tampa General Hospital in Florida. Does anyone have any advice or experience with this facility?:thumbup: and I have UNITED HEALTH CARE... just wondering if they approve fast? Thank you! :cursing:

I live in Tampa, and I think TGH is a great hospital. The lap band program though is about $1700 out of pocket not covered by insurance of any kind and then your packet goes to insurance for approval. The Dr. isn't the one that does the band, his fellows (students) do. They also have the clinic mentality there, so it just wasn't my cup of tea.

I am being banded by Dr. Wilfred Aguila at Memorial Hospital in Tampa on April 8th which is a stone's throw from TGH. He has been a general surgeon for decades (does the surgery himself), has struggled with his weight and won the battle and three people on his office staff have had the band. They are so kind and informative and bend over backwards to help you through the process. I have nothing but accolades for them right now!

Good luck in your decision in whichever hospital you choose and keep in touch!

Hugs!

Heather

HELLO

I went to the info session and I was told it was only 700 dollars for the testing and then they would send the papers for the approval, and i was wondering how did you find out that the doctor dosnt do the surgery? :/ the reason that im dong the surgery there is because i have UNITED HEALTH CARE and that is the hospital that is closer to me and that is approved by my insurance.... and its a center of excellence :bored: thanks for the info!

I researched who I was originally referred to; Dr. Michel Murr... here is the page I found on his background

ThrombosisClinic.com - Biographies - Michel M. Murr, MD

He is an Associate Professor of Surgery at USF (our university here in Tampa), which got me to thinking (since my dad is a professor) and I called TGH and asked. They said that Dr. Murr does some of the high risk surgeries, but for the most part his fellows do the procedures under Dr. Murr's supervision.

TGH is also a teaching hospital. Which doesn't make it a bad thing, its just not what I want. You are correct that they are a center for excellence.

I was trying to find the page that I had saved that had the rates, but I can't locate it.. I remember it was $250 at the Seminar, $500 for Initial Consultation, then $1000 for psych , nuitritionist and pre-op. They also had fees for filling out paperwork and on and on it went. It wasn't the best choice for ME.

I chose Dr. Aguila, he is a total Care lap band certified center and does the surgeries himself. He was a general surgeon first and so he has always been up to his elbows in surgery so to speak! LOL

Meet the Surgeon

Above is the details on Dr. Aguila's info.

Either way,we all make the best decisions for ourselves and no one decision is wrong or right, just different!

Hugs,

Heather

Hi Beba:

I am going with Dr. Tiffany Jessee, she is out of

St. Petesburg I am only paying 1000. The information session did not cost a thing, and my insurance picked the rest up. As far as Tampa General it is a great hospital, I have friends that work there and they are very happy. I am going to Palms of Pasadena on April 7th so I wish you all the luck on this very important passage in your life.

Good luck!

I also went to Dr. Jessee in St. Petersburg. She is wonderful!!

I am having my band on May 3rd at University Community Hospital with Dr. Dietrick. I have heard good things about TGH, but also that you have to deal with the fellows more than the doctor.

Since I am a nurse at UCH, I have to have my surgery there.....but I think Dr. Dietrick is really good.

I am considering LAP-BAND®® @Tampa General Hospital in Florida. Does anyone have any advice or experience with this facility?:thumbup: and I have UNITED HEALTH CARE... just wondering if they approve fast? Thank you! :cursing:

Finally found some one in my Area with my questions Thank YOU!. I am in clearwater and in the middle of both TGH and Pasadena. I am going to the Pasadena seminar thursday, and I defenitely want to know my out of pocket expenses and time frames. I must do a colonoscopy as well, and thats $300. Please those recently banded, in the Tampabay area... let us know what to expect.

I have FEPBLUE and the promote both these places and in OTHER blogs I read that some other folks did NOT pay these fees. but I do not know where they live.

Anyhow.. Good luck, pray we get approved and do well.

I'm not in Tampa but I can tell you that UHC approved me in about 2 weeks...good luck!

Well Found Dr Aguila Memorial Hospital Tampa, no admin fees and my Ins covers most of it.. On my way!

Hi Ladies,

I just wanted to add that I as well have Dr. Aguila as my surgeon. I am scheduled for a July 14th banding so can't give any info about the surgery yet. However, I can say that he and his office staff are super professional and are concerned about patients' well-being. He's a straight-shooter which I like and does tell it like it is. Tina, his office manager and a lapband patient herself, is the fantastic when it comes to getting all your paperwork together for the insurance. I honestly believe that is in part why my insurance approved me exactly 2 weeks to the day after she filed and why there were no hiccups with my insurance. She runs each persons file like it's her own. So, I feel like I'm in pretty good hands!

Crystaldmm

Hi Ladies,

I just wanted to add that I as well have Dr. Aguila as my surgeon. I am scheduled for a July 14th banding so can't give any info about the surgery yet. However, I can say that he and his office staff are super professional and are concerned about patients' well-being. He's a straight-shooter which I like and does tell it like it is. Tina, his office manager and a lapband patient herself, is the fantastic when it comes to getting all your paperwork together for the insurance. I honestly believe that is in part why my insurance approved me exactly 2 weeks to the day after she filed and why there were no hiccups with my insurance. She runs each persons file like it's her own. So, I feel like I'm in pretty good hands!

Crystaldmm

You going to any of the support groups??. my 1st tonight,, 6/30.2011 im looking for a possible exercise buddy, just a buddy period! i have 3 month wait, so good luck!!!