I just met with the surgeon yesterday. I loved the surgeon, but wasn't wild about the bariatric coordinator or the office in general. I guess I wanted to just "talk it out" a bit here to see if my concern are valid or if I'm just not being realisitic in expectations.

First, I am likely going to get the sleeve. All of their materials said lap-band and gatric bypass. Like, all the forms I had to sign referred to the band and the RNY. I know the sleeve is a newer procedure, but it really turned me off that they hadn't updated their forms to include all the surgeries they offer.

Second, before my appointment they had me call my insurance company and find out what they cover - and fill out of form explaining coverage. I had no problem with this, and I think every patient should take responsibility for knowing what is covered by their insurance plan. I got the name of a rep who said I needed 6 months of diets - and it would have to be documented. I asked her if receipts from a meal delivery diet service would suffice and she said "yes". So I collected receipts and put together this tidy little 6-months of diet "proof" that I thought might work. Well, the coordinator wouldn't even take it and said that I needed to fax that to the insurance company myself. Is that normal? I don't mind doing some legwork, but I thought that the submission would ultimately come from my doctor's office.

Now, I really connected with the surgeon and I think he would be great. But, I am not totally sure that this place is the right place for me.

There is another surgeon that is a bit closer to me. He has a very active support group (which he attends himself), a great hospital, etc. This could be a "grass is always greener" situation.

My husband thinks I should go check out this other place. I feel bad, like I'm jerking around this first surgeon to go to this first appointment and then change my mind about him -- but, really, I don't think he'll be up at night worrying about it. LOL!

The monthly support groups for surgeon A are about 1 1/2 hour drive for me. Monthly support groups (acutally happen twice monthly) for surgeon B are 50 minutes away.

I guess I just need some help in thinking this all out. Would you be turned off by the forms not being updated to include the sleeve, or is that just being petty and silly? Is it unusal for the patient to need to fax the insurance info in themselves, or is that typical?

Thanks for any thoughts, and for reading all this rambling.

I look at it like this... if you have a feeling or an annoyance, that could be your gut telling you something. You could go to the second surgeon and hate him even more, you never know.

I'm a big believer that the service you receive from the front office staff is likely to mirror the service you will receive from that physician.

I would never give my "business" to a place that treated me poorly, there is just no reason for that.

I switched hospitals/surgeons..not because of the surgeon but because of the ins. coor. So I asked for all my records..funny how they had shredded them..so when I switched, I had to start over completely which is totally ok by me but because of them it set me back 5 months but I've also learned alot in that time. Still waiting but the process is going much quicker and smoother and my current ins coor is really on top of things and returns my calls within a day..instead of a month. Good luck and don't feel bad if you have to switch. You will know if it's the right choice.