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

sorry, I was so excited to hear about somebody who actually may have received a future date at South Bay....

Hello everyone it has been a minute and had no idea of the change to the site. I like it.

I first want to say to KristyKreme: I am praying for you. I know you are excited and nervous at the same time. I will be thinking of you.

Also, guess what!!!!!!!!!!!! I rcvd my authorization from Kaiser and consult date two days ago with Paciific Bariatric. I attend the appointments on Monday, Oct. 18th. I finished Options Sept. 20 and hopefully the wait is not long to rcv a surgery date. Although I feel its going at a good pace.

Kristy, did you have to drive to different locations for the appointments? I spoke to Cheryl and she says she will call me after everything is set up. She asked me general questions about the date I wanted to go for consult, what type of surgery, etc.

Hello everyone it has been a minute and had no idea of the change to the site. I like it.

I first want to say to KristyKreme: I am praying for you. I know you are excited and nervous at the same time. I will be thinking of you.

Also, guess what!!!!!!!!!!!! I rcvd my authorization from Kaiser and consult date two days ago with Paciific Bariatric. I attend the appointments on Monday, Oct. 18th. I finished Options Sept. 20 and hopefully the wait is not long to rcv a surgery date. Although I feel its going at a good pace.

Kristy, did you have to drive to different locations for the appointments? I spoke to Cheryl and she says she will call me after everything is set up. She asked me general questions about the date I wanted to go for consult, what type of surgery, etc.

Hey BlaqBeary,

I am also from Kaiser Bellflower and getting sleeved at Pacific Bariatric. The therapist and surgeon is at one place and the internal medicine doctor is across the street. You have to pay 2.00 per entrance for parking and the appt may not be around the same time. ex..My therapist appt was at 10am surgeon appt at 2pm and internal medicine appt at 5pm. After my therapist appt , I went up the way to the mall and saw a movie wasting time after my 10 am appt. Although it's an all day situation it went by pretty quickly and everyone was really nice. My surgeon will be Dr. Zorn and I will be receiving my date next week. I finished my classes at the beginning of August had my consult on Sept 13 and now just waiting for the 21 day clearance process they ask you to wait before contacting them or them contacting you about the surgery date. My 21st business day is Tuesday the 19th if I don't hear from them by then , I will be calling first thing Wednesday morning.

just curious, were u nervous with the therapist? I have questions for the surgeon; hope the surgeon is patient.

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.

Thanks for responding. Very informative. I will take into consideration the times of each. Seeing a movie is great. I will go to my favorite restaurant at Fashion Valley and have lunch with hubby.

Why is there a 21 day clearance? and why no contact?

Hey BlaqBeary,

I am also from Kaiser Bellflower and getting sleeved at Pacific Bariatric. The therapist and surgeon is at one place and the internal medicine doctor is across the street. You have to pay 2.00 per entrance for parking and the appt may not be around the same time. ex..My therapist appt was at 10am surgeon appt at 2pm and internal medicine appt at 5pm. After my therapist appt , I went up the way to the mall and saw a movie wasting time after my 10 am appt. Although it's an all day situation it went by pretty quickly and everyone was really nice. My surgeon will be Dr. Zorn and I will be receiving my date next week. I finished my classes at the beginning of August had my consult on Sept 13 and now just waiting for the 21 day clearance process they ask you to wait before contacting them or them contacting you about the surgery date. My 21st business day is Tuesday the 19th if I don't hear from them by then , I will be calling first thing Wednesday morning.

Hey BlaqBeary,

I am also from Kaiser Bellflower and getting sleeved at Pacific Bariatric. The therapist and surgeon is at one place and the internal medicine doctor is across the street. You have to pay 2.00 per entrance for parking and the appt may not be around the same time. ex..My therapist appt was at 10am surgeon appt at 2pm and internal medicine appt at 5pm. After my therapist appt , I went up the way to the mall and saw a movie wasting time after my 10 am appt. Although it's an all day situation it went by pretty quickly and everyone was really nice. My surgeon will be Dr. Zorn and I will be receiving my date next week. I finished my classes at the beginning of August had my consult on Sept 13 and now just waiting for the 21 day clearance process they ask you to wait before contacting them or them contacting you about the surgery date. My 21st business day is Tuesday the 19th if I don't hear from them by then , I will be calling first thing Wednesday morning.

when you go they will give you a information packet, it will be a CD of what to expect and what to start doing to prepare for the surgery. Along with that it's a letter that states although you are eager to get your surgery , we are working hard to get all your paperwork together. Please don't call it slows down our process, give us 21 days to collect all the consultation information from each doctor and allow the time for the surgeon to review. If you must contact us please email us and they give a email address. after the 21 days the goal is for them to call with some dates to choose your surgery date. That funny you named the exact place that I went to right off of Friar but I couldn't think of the place. I went to see Inception it was excellent. Keep me updated on how it all goes

Hey guys finished options class and had my appt on Friday...I was cleared to get my labs and move on to get authorization if my labs come back ok....I am now even more confused they had me fill out two referrals one for Pacific and one for Crown....I told them I wanted the sleeve and crown does not offer the surgery....they advised me that they pick were I go and I cant request it will be based on criteria.....didnt say what....is that normal? I am set on having the sleeve and going to crown would be a waste of time!!

I wonder = you as the patient cannot pick the hospital to where you want your procedure done? Wow. Kaiser Bellflower was/is so easy. I am satisfied with my progress.

Last day of Options class we filled out medical info authorizations for PB. If you were staying with Kaiser this was not necessary. WE completed all labs during different weeks of the program. I walked into doctors office and asked (called) for the EKG - the same day; rcvd an original to take with me. I sent PB all info listed on their form and all is history.

Got authorization number from Kaiser and booked consult date same day for the 18th. If surgery is not til Jan or Feb; its ok. hopefully really not the case.

Hey guys finished options class and had my appt on Friday...I was cleared to get my labs and move on to get authorization if my labs come back ok....I am now even more confused they had me fill out two referrals one for Pacific and one for Crown....I told them I wanted the sleeve and crown does not offer the surgery....they advised me that they pick were I go and I cant request it will be based on criteria.....didnt say what....is that normal? I am set on having the sleeve and going to crown would be a waste of time!!

Yeah I am beyond fustrated and upset with kaiser....all autorizations and classes should run the same I think I am going to want answers from Kaiser now on why everything is so different at different locations how fair is that? Other locations get to do the labs and pick meanwhile us in Riverside area have to wait.....hmm...not right!!

I wonder = you as the patient cannot pick the hospital to where you want your procedure done? Wow. Kaiser Bellflower was/is so easy. I am satisfied with my progress.

Last day of Options class we filled out medical info authorizations for PB. If you were staying with Kaiser this was not necessary. WE completed all labs during different weeks of the program. I walked into doctors office and asked (called) for the EKG - the same day; rcvd an original to take with me. I sent PB all info listed on their form and all is history.

Got authorization number from Kaiser and booked consult date same day for the 18th. If surgery is not til Jan or Feb; its ok. hopefully really not the case.

Got the date last week and now the times to see each specialist with Pacific Bariatric on Monday. So exciting.

The appointments are very close and very happy for that. First appointment is with the surgeon, then the Internist and lastly Psych ending at 12 noon.

I will have more than enough time to see my dad in Chula Vista, which is 15 minutes away and head up to Viejas Casino. I will leave Diego late night, after visiting cousins and uncles. Why not make it a fun day, huh?

Ohhhhhhhhhh!!!

My letter states that I must wait 21 WORKING DAYS to contact them regarding a surgery date because it gives them time to rcv all notes from your appts. So that will be November 16th. I wanted to wait after Thanksgiving anyway, because I will get paid for the whole four day holiday weekend. I work for LA County. I am salaried, but it does make a difference when 4 days are involved. I have sick time, but it will take the weekend days away. I can't have that now. lol.

Anywho I am rambling. Very sleepy. Good night all.

Got the date last week and now the times to see each specialist with Pacific Bariatric on Monday. So exciting.

The appointments are very close and very happy for that. First appointment is with the surgeon, then the Internist and lastly Psych ending at 12 noon.

I will have more than enough time to see my dad in Chula Vista, which is 15 minutes away and head up to Viejas Casino. I will leave Diego late night, after visiting cousins and uncles. Why not make it a fun day, huh?

Ohhhhhhhhhh!!!

My letter states that I must wait 21 WORKING DAYS to contact them regarding a surgery date because it gives them time to rcv all notes from your appts. So that will be November 16th. I wanted to wait after Thanksgiving anyway, because I will get paid for the whole four day holiday weekend. I work for LA County. I am salaried, but it does make a difference when 4 days are involved. I have sick time, but it will take the weekend days away. I can't have that now. lol.

Anywho I am rambling. Very sleepy. Good night all.

Glad to here you have it all set up, It goes so quickly my 21 days have come and gone and I am still waiting. My surgeon was out for a week so my chart is just sitting on his desk for review. Once he gives it to the coordinator then we can get a date going. when I called today to check the status and confirm everything is booked up for the year. I asked to be placed on a cancellation waiting list just in case someone changes their mind before the year is up, I am trying to coordinate with my job as well. We will see what happens, I will call back again tomorrow since we are going on over a month and I would just like to get a date so this can stop being a thought. I have to wait no matter what, I am not in control of that part but I can't get on the list until I actually get a date so hopefully tomorrow. Have fun on your consult day and don't spend to much at the Cno.

You sound unhappy. Don't get discouraged. You will get there.

My last day of Options was Sept 20. And if it takes to Jan or Feb to have surgery then that will be the right time. I am at this point of no return. I keep going because I know I am further than others and wish I was farther than most. Time and patience is my focus. It also gives me more time to read the different post and add to my journal of the do and don'ts.

Keep the Faith!!!!!!!

Glad to here you have it all set up, It goes so quickly my 21 days have come and gone and I am still waiting. My surgeon was out for a week so my chart is just sitting on his desk for review. Once he gives it to the coordinator then we can get a date going. when I called today to check the status and confirm everything is booked up for the year. I asked to be placed on a cancellation waiting list just in case someone changes their mind before the year is up, I am trying to coordinate with my job as well. We will see what happens, I will call back again tomorrow since we are going on over a month and I would just like to get a date so this can stop being a thought. I have to wait no matter what, I am not in control of that part but I can't get on the list until I actually get a date so hopefully tomorrow. Have fun on your consult day and don't spend to much at the Cno.

You sound unhappy. Don't get discouraged. You will get there.

My last day of Options was Sept 20. And if it takes to Jan or Feb to have surgery then that will be the right time. I am at this point of no return. I keep going because I know I am further than others and wish I was farther than most. Time and patience is my focus. It also gives me more time to read the different post and add to my journal of the do and don'ts.

Keep the Faith!!!!!!!

Hey BlaqBeary,

I am not unhappy, I am good it's just the wait game is just that the wait game. I will just keep touching basis with them and go from there, I know I will have a date soon and I will just go from there. Yes you are right we are farther then others and at least that' all I am waiting for is a surgery date. The forum is very helpful. I have already began to think about the things I will be stocking up on like sugar free popsicles, my Protein drinks, etc. I am going to stay on the liquid diet for a month it looks like that is key as well as help with quicker weight loss starting off. Keep me informed on your progress as I will do the same. Thanks for all the support

thin2be: how are you? are things working out okay?

Yeah I am beyond fustrated and upset with kaiser....all autorizations and classes should run the same I think I am going to want answers from Kaiser now on why everything is so different at different locations how fair is that? Other locations get to do the labs and pick meanwhile us in Riverside area have to wait.....hmm...not right!!

@ BlaqBeary Im ok just hanging in there....all my test are complete now so I am just waiting for the authorization.....I already did the orientation so hopefully will be able to see the surgeon mid or end November.....I called PB to see how far out sugerys are and they said Dec/Jan so I sure I will be somewhere around March/April....its been a long and fustrating wait and I feel Kaiser needs to handle things better....how did ur appt go with PB today?

thin2be: how are you? are things working out okay?