Hello Canadian Band Buddies

For those of you that have not heard CIBO Clinic in Toronto has filed for bankruptcy.

I received the following email today from Dr. Chris Cobourn at Smartshape (formerly Surgical Weightloss Centre) and he has asked me to post this message.

Tom, Toronto

Banded July 6 06

Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

Hi Tom:

We had a meeting at the clinic today and we have come up with the following option for CIBO patients.

We will offer them the opportunity to join our follow up program which includes:

Initial assessment/consultation with Dr. Cobourn either in person or on the phone

Counseling with our team of nurses, coaches and dietitians via email, telephone or in person as necessary

Band adjustments as necessary

Band adjustments can be performed at our facilities in Mississauga or Downtown Toronto, and with our affiliates across the country

Radiologic or endoscopic evaluation as necessary

24/7 access to one of our surgeons if there are concerns or worries after hours

Access to weekly webinars by our nurses and dietitian

Access to Lap Band Connect – an extensive online support forum for Lap Band patients

Access to this comprehensive program is offered to CIBO patients at the cost of $1000 per year and can be renewed annually as the patient wishes. We are not able to offer a fee for individual adjustments because our philosophy of care is that the highest quality Lap Band care is more extensive than simple band adjustments.

There was a great deal of empathy for the situation of these patients that are not able to access a follow up program that they have paid for. However there needs to be an understanding that there are real costs associated with the delivery of this extensive follow up and we cannot offer this program without additional cost to the patient. We understand that additional costs may be a burden for these patients and have modified or usual access fee for the CIBO patients.

It is important to understand that access to the follow up program does not include the cost of any revision surgery that may be necessary. Revision surgery may include port fixation or placement, as well as band repositioning, replacement or removal. We will develop a schedule of costs for these revision procedures.

Please feel free to post this information on the Message Forums that you have access to. You know the quality of the follow up that we provide and we think this is a fair and reasonable option for these patients. SWLC is well known for the quality of care we provide and all patients who join our program will have full access to the post op care we provide to our patients.

We want to assure the CIBO patients that we are here to help them if they are interested in our program.

Dr. Chris Cobourn | Surgeon and Medical Director

SmartShape™ Weight Loss Centre

Phone: 905.278.8000 | Toll-free: 1.888.278.7952 | Website: smartshape.ca

1413 Hurontario Street Mississauga ON L5G 3H5

Thanks for posting this information. I was scheduled for surgery with CIBO on May 13. Thankfully I did not lose any of my money! I have contacted "Smartshape" and an meeting with them next week.

I am so disappointed with CIBO... I only found out about the closure AFTER I showed up for a pre-op meeting with the surgeon.... only to get locked doors

I have contacted CIBO in regards to this and my disappointment

Thanks for posting this information. I was scheduled for surgery with CIBO on May 13. Thankfully I did not lose any of my money! I have contacted "Smartshape" and an meeting with them next week.

I am so disappointed with CIBO... I only found out about the closure AFTER I showed up for a pre-op meeting with the surgeon.... only to get locked doors

I have contacted CIBO in regards to this and my disappointment

Perfect timing! You'll love the people at Smartshape, they're amazing, so helpful. I think it was meant to be for you.

Anyone I've met at my coffee groups have always raved about the staff at Smartshape and the follow-up care they have received.

Tom, Toronto

Banded July 6 06

Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

Thanks! I have too agree the timing is quite perfect, my heart is breaking for anyone who is going to lose their deposit or full payment without anything to show for it.

I'm really looking forward to changing my life and only see this as a bump in the road.

Nenny... I just sent you a private message.

Tom

I'm still on CIBO's mailing list (despite asking them again and again to take me the hell off of it) and this is what I got today. I personally am not affected as my band came out two years ago but I thought I'd pass along the information. I'm not really surprised they've gone under as I wasn't all that thrilled with their service. Their surgeon and Jen Walsh were great, but the owner and the rest of the support staff didn't seem to have the training and professionalism at a standard they needed to run that kind of clinic. Also, when I started having trouble with my band was precisely when they started dodging my phone calls. The band not working out for me was more a physiology issue than anything, but CIBO really didn't help.

Dear CIBO Patients,

Over the past few days we have tried to contact CIBO Patients. We are very saddened to announce that CIBO Clinic has been forced into receivership. Due to financial difficulties, we are no longer able to operate.

Due to the unfortunate closure of the clinic a number of former staff members have voluntarily banded together to help provide care for the patients they serviced while employed by the clinic. Staff members are acting on their own accord, apart from previous management, to provide these additional services because they care.

Patients should know that despite CIBO’s closure you are not “Orphaned” as some of the other clinics have led some of you to believe. Your surgeons are still available and responsible for your medical care. As you will read below, there is support being planned for you.

We appreciate your support and patience while we “set things up” but wanted to provide an outline for your information.

Medical Care

Dr. Dennis Hong and Dr. Nalin Amin are still in charge of your medical care in the event that you experience complications or are in need of band related medical care. The emergency line is still active to support you at 647-297-8044.

Dr. Hong and Dr. Amin operate out of St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, ON.

Patient Information - Google Docs

We will be setting up a calendar and other materials and resources for your care on Google Docs. You will need a Google Gmail Account and we ask that you set one up and email it to us at ¬¬¬

cibopatients@gmail.com

. You will then be added to the group.

Fills

In-Town Patients

Under the direction of Dr. Hong and Dr. Amin, fills will be provided in the short to medium term free of charge. The cost of these fills will initially be covered personally by your doctors. The location(s) will be determined shortly.

We will be posting on the central calendar the location(s) and dates as they are determined. We will also be available onsite to provide guidance for patients requiring advice on fill volume and other band related issues.

Out-of-Town Patients

There will be minimal changes to the protocol for obtaining a fill. We are available to provide guidance for patients requiring advice on fill volume. Please email for direction. Patients will be assuming the cost for these fills.

Post-Operative Care

Patient support will be available and group support meetings are being organized in conjunction with fills.

Nisrine will continue to provide patient care support. You can reach her at

cibopatients@gmail.com

Dr. Jennifer Walsh remains available by email if you need support. You can reach her at

drjenniferwalsh@gmail.com

Emergency Line – 647-297-8044

At the moment our biggest obstacle is finding appropriate locations. If you have access to a location free of charge please let us know.

I had my surgery at Smart Shape.

I am really impressed with the letter above from the doctor's at the CIBO clinic. Way to stand up and do the right thing!

Where are all the CIBO patients (victims). I have been serching for forums, websites....to find all of those that have been effected from the loss of medical, psychiatric, physiotheraputic, diatery and regulated fills and adjustments. Every service and promise we paid for with our hard earned $18k is gone along with our dreams. We are now faced with the fears of bands rupturing, eating and swallowing obstructions. vomiting. ...... potentialy life threatening events

Can't get direction or referral to an Ontario Health bariatric specialist by our family MD and can't afford private. So now what. CIBO must have insurance coverage??? They haved breached their contract with us. Someone in Ohip needs to recognize and address this issue. Not sure who to contact??? Going to start calling lawyers, .

I believe this is a legal matter for medical mal-practice/class action/civil litigation.....

Does anyone agree or have any thoughts??????