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

Wow!!!! Have you spoken to anyone? Is there a waiting list? Shoot I may not have surgery til next year.

OTE=kristykreem;80862]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.

I kind of think Kaiser should slow down with classes so Pacific and Kaiser catch up.

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.

hells, yeah, i've spoken to them several times. on tuesday, i was told they're booked through october 15th, but they couldn't tell me where i am in line to be called. "as soon as possible" is all they'll say.

Man, that sucks!!! I agree with you, blaqberry. Perhaps Kaiser should slow down on the classes to allow the log jam of people get thru. Although it was 4 months from the time I was sent to the Options program and when I started classes, and I couldn't wait for them to start!!! LOL!! Or Kaiser should have another facility running to help take care of the people who have already made it thru the classes. Such a pain!!!

what they really need is more surgeons.

Crazy. All we can do hope for the best. At least you're a number on the list.

hells, yeah, i've spoken to them several times. on tuesday, i was told they're booked through october 15th, but they couldn't tell me where i am in line to be called. "as soon as possible" is all they'll say.

Amen, Amen. And that is the backlog. No surgeons

what they really need is more surgeons.

i still think i'll get done before i would have with the other choice i was given (kaiser west los angeles). west LA's wait was at least five months several months ago, and i'm assuming it has only gotten worse. i just keep telling myself once this is over, it'll be OVER, and the interminable wait time will be a fading memory.

I am in the middle of the OPTIONS classes in Carson and was told that a new surgeon is coming onboard by the end of this month to help with the backlog at Harbor City. I heard at Harbor City, the backlog is between 3 to 4 months.

I just spoke to Harbor City Bariatric offices and found out some interesting information. The new bariatric surgeon is Dr. Mun and is due to arrive in late December. All referrals to the South Bay surgeon group from outside Kaiser facilites have been stopped in order to clear up the Harbor City members' surgeries first.

As of today, if your OPTIONS class ends in early November (as mine does on November 2nd) there is a four month wait for actual surgery BUT with the new surgeon on board in December, it should move up at least by one month.

If you do not want to wait that amount of time, you can go to Pacific Bariatrics in San Diego, but all 6 month follow ups must take place there in San Diego. The other is Crown in Riverside but they only perform the RNY and again, all follow ups will have to take place there.

So, if you want to remain with Harbor City, there will be plenty of time to get extra weight off and get very healthy for the surgery.

i'm curious about how long the wait time is for west los angeles. have any of you heard anything?

my experience with both kaiser and pacific bariatric is that i get a totally different story from every person i talk to with regard to how things work and the time line. it's extremely frustrating.

i got my date: october 13th.

Yay! Finally

Hi Spiritus, I'd like to correct you on Pacific Bariatric. For post surgery patients follow-up visits are done in Anaheim unless you want to drive to San Diego.

I just spoke to Harbor City Bariatric offices and found out some interesting information. The new bariatric surgeon is Dr. Mun and is due to arrive in late December. All referrals to the South Bay surgeon group from outside Kaiser facilites have been stopped in order to clear up the Harbor City members' surgeries first.

As of today, if your OPTIONS class ends in early November (as mine does on November 2nd) there is a four month wait for actual surgery BUT with the new surgeon on board in December, it should move up at least by one month.

If you do not want to wait that amount of time, you can go to Pacific Bariatrics in San Diego, but all 6 month follow ups must take place there in San Diego. The other is Crown in Riverside but they only perform the RNY and again, all follow ups will have to take place there.

So, if you want to remain with Harbor City, there will be plenty of time to get extra weight off and get very healthy for the surgery.

Kristy, so glad to hear you are in. What are your instructions? I can't wait for my authorization.tykreem;82204]i got my date: october 13th.

Edited September 28, 201015 yr by BlaqBeary