i'm with kaiser so cal in los Angeles. i've completed the options program and am now jumping through myriad pre-surgery appointment hoops in order to get my surgery referral.

i just wanted to give everybody with kaiser so cal a shout out to say THEY ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF THIS PROCESS. be aware that you will need to be extremely pro-active in terms of your bariatric journey or an already long and involved waiting process will be made even longer and more involved.

also be aware that kaiser is farming surgeries out to ancillary facilities because they can't handle their own bariatric surgery load. this adds further complication to an already overly complicated process. i was given two choices for my surgery venue: kaiser west l.a. and an outside partner facility. i chose the outside partner facility because they have their act together and they have a considerably shorter waiting period, at least as of this moment.

my experience so far with this outside partner facility is that they are much more in control of their process than kaiser is, and kaiser has no real idea about how their outside partner facilities operate, even though they try to provide this information (which is usually inaccurate). all you really need to know is what your kaiser doctor needs in order to refer you for surgery, and what the surgeon at the outside facility needs in order to schedule your surgical consultation. my outside facility is requiring me to attend a 90-minute seminar, in which i will be given instructions and paperwork to fill out. between this seminar, paperwork, and my kaiser pre-surgery tests, i should be good to go.

with kaiser, you're going to have to steer your own ship, if you know what i'm sayin'.

Edited July 25, 201016 yr by kristykreem

LOL I was set on Lancaster but on to plan b.....pacific bariatric

I just went online and scheduled my orientation for Sept 15th....:thumbup:

It will all work out....I called and there wait time is 1-2 months...not bad!!

Just found out some bad news......:crying: according to my case worker I can not use Lancaster.... these are my options

van buren office

southbay-

west la-kaiser

crown bariatric

pacific bariatric-

Now I got to research these ones:thumbdown:

Hey I've heard South Bay Harbor City is the BEST! They are one of the best Bariatric facilities nationwide out of 200 hospitals (and there are over 200 hospitals in California alone). They actually end up of fixing all the problem cases from Pacific and Crown. The surgeons are the BEST! It's worth the wait. Of course it's just my opinion...it's ultimately your decision:redface1:.

Edited August 11, 201016 yr by sleeve 4 me
adding-correct spelling

sleeve 4 me -- your surgery is coming up soon! very exciting! when you feel good, please tell us all about your experience.

i wasn't even given harbor city as a choice. it was west LA or pacific bariatric. period.

Any new info on how long the wait is now for Harbor City?

pacific bariatric will be at the anaheim plaza hotel tomorrow at 5:30pm for those who are interested or just for info. they will give you the packet of everything you need to return to them to get a consult down in san diego and then a referral number to see the surgeon. I will be there with bells on (not really - just excited)

Just found out some bad news......:biggrin0: according to my case worker I can not use Lancaster.... these are my options

van buren office

southbay-

west la-kaiser

crown bariatric

pacific bariatric-

Now I got to research these ones:thumbdown:

When was the last date of your Options class?

There will be those to say whatever hospital their procedure was completed at, will be the best hospital. And, yes there are many Kaisers all across to back East. I was born at Bellflower.

It's not that Kaiser corrected PB (if there are actual statistics that mention this). To my understanding overall there were approximately 80 patients who recieved the lapband, either from Kaiser or another facility and Kaiser performed/corrected over something of 200 lapbands to sleeves. So, there were a lot of people being corrected by Kaiser than doing the actual sleeves. Although sleeves were done f0r the first time there too.

Nonetheless, who is to say where the majority of those patients come from. I think if you go to PB website Gastric Bypass Surgery and Bariatric Surgery information - Pacific Bariatric you will find another statistic rather than put them (Crown also) down. PB has done over 10,000 plus, because this is what they specialize in.

I want my surgery completed with PB, in that, I don't want to wait for Kaisers waiting list.

Hey I've heard South Bay Harbor City is the BEST! They are one of the best Bariatric facilities nationwide out of 200 hospitals (and there are over 200 hospitals in California alone). They actually end up of fixing all the problem cases from Pacific and Crown. The surgeons are the BEST! It's worth the wait. Of course it's just my opinion...it's ultimately your decision:redface1:.

lol I thought the same. And I have never heard of Crown.

hey! i was only given two choices! you got, like, a million!

sleeve 4 me -- your surgery is coming up soon! very exciting! when you feel good, please tell us all about your experience.

i wasn't even given harbor city as a choice. it was west LA or pacific bariatric. period.

O wow I guess the rumors are true. I heard they closed the option to go to South Bay/Harbor City Kaiser because there was an expolsion of new patients :frown1:. I actually wanted to go to West LA initially but were backed up at the time. I guess it goes back and forth lol.

When was the last date of your Options class?

There will be those to say whatever hospital their procedure was completed at, will be the best hospital. And, yes there are many Kaisers all across to back East. I was born at Bellflower.

It's not that Kaiser corrected PB (if there are actual statistics that mention this). To my understanding overall there were approximately 80 patients who recieved the lapband, either from Kaiser or another facility and Kaiser performed/corrected over something of 200 lapbands to sleeves. So, there were a lot of people being corrected by Kaiser than doing the actual sleeves. Although sleeves were done f0r the first time there too.

Nonetheless, who is to say where the majority of those patients come from. I think if you go to PB website Gastric Bypass Surgery and Bariatric Surgery information - Pacific Bariatric you will find another statistic rather than put them (Crown also) down. PB has done over 10,000 plus, because this is what they specialize in.

I want my surgery completed with PB, in that, I don't want to wait for Kaisers waiting list.

April 2, 2010 was the last day of my options class:thumbup:

SO I am in week 8 of the options class. I am wondering a few things. How long does it take after you end the class, about,. to get your surgery?? It seems as though San Diego seems to be the best option. SHould I contact them before I get the referal? How does that work? Some insight would be rad.

Wha kind of test do they do? as much detail would be great

go to the top of the threads. you will find answers to your questions. also search particular words. good luck to you. my 12 and last week is monday.

o

SO I am in week 8 of the options class. I am wondering a few things. How long does it take after you end the class, about,. to get your surgery?? It seems as though San Diego seems to be the best option. SHould I contact them before I get the referal? How does that work? Some insight would be rad.

Wha kind of test do they do? as much detail would be great

Hey everyone!

So I finally got my surgery date scheduled. It took a few followup calls to the surgeon's office (Dr. Yadegar in Lancaster), but I now have my date!!! I feel a little anxious, excited, nervous. I've started working out at the gym at my apartment complex, so I'm also a little sore! I'm feeling really good and positive about everything.

For those of you trying to get a timeline, I attended Options in Panarama City and am having surgery in Lancaster. From the end of classes to my surgery date, it will be 5 months.

Yeah you have a date!

@kristy - how was your consult with Pacific Bariatric? I am waiting for another week for Kaiser to send them authorization #.

hey, y'all --- member services is who tells you about your

pacific bariatric is a three-day stay, so i think it's two nights and the third day is the day i go home. i'll know for sure after my day there on the 23rd and i'll let you know what i find out.

my consultation went well, but it was on august 23rd and i still don't have a surgery date. pacific bariatric has been overwhelmed with kaiser patients and they've fallen behind. so, i'm waiting in line to be called to schedule my surgery. not happy.