I did a lot of searching for info regarding the Kaiser process and it was hard to find. I'm putting this out there for anyone else with Kaiser that is interested

4/29/11 - I had an appointment with my PCP at Kaiser in Brea (So. Cal). I am 5'7 and my weight was 298. I asked for a referral for the Options program. She told me I would have to do a supervised three month diet with a program like Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or Lindora before she can refer me. She said to email her when I finished the three months.

9/29/11 - I emailed my PCP on and asked for the referral. Her LVN replied that she was out of the office and would get back to me in a couple of days. I never heard back so I emailed again on 11/8/11.

11/10/11 - The nurse called to say the referral was processed and I had a lot of lab work to complete. I did all of the labs on 11/11/11. I also had to do an EKG and a sleep study.

12/2/11 - I had my mandatory Options orientation at the Orange Pavilion.

1/18/12 - I started the 12 week Options class at the Orange Pavilion. My weight was 307. They want you to lose 10% of your weight during the 12 week program.

1/20/12 - I met with the program's NP. She went over all of my medical history with me. She said I would also need to get a chest xray. She gave me a list of Vitamins to start taking.

2/21/12 - I'm still in the Options program. My weight last week was 297. A 10 pound weight loss since I started Options. We meet once a week for 1.5 hours. The instructors are either RNs, RDs, or MSWs. I'm using myfitnesspal.com on my pc and iphone to track calories and exercise.

Kaiser offers the lap band, Roux-en-Y and sleeve gastrectomy. I plan on going forward with the sleeve.

That's my story

I never heard a thing about the options class. I had to do a mental health evaluation ( 2 different appt. ) and meet with the nutrionist. After I completed that I got to schedule with the surgeon on which was when he was to tell me what weight I needed to lose but lucky for me when I met with him he said I was ready for surgery.

as far as i know it does not take too long after the options program to get you schedule i took longer because i was not ready to make that decision but as soon as i called them to tell i was ready a nurse called me 3 days later to schedule appointment to see surgeon she wanted to schedule me within 2 days but because i had gained all the weight back i asked for an appointment 2 weeks i just saw him yesterday and he scheduled me for 3/7/12 people that i attended the same program with me have already had the surgery

I live in So. Calif. and am attending the Options Program in Fontana. My referral to first Options class took 12days. I saw my PCP on Friday for the referral to the Bariatric department. The referral was accepted that Wed. and I was called to schedule my Orientation class offered only on Fridays 1-4pm. This had to be completed before I could register for Options. I attended Orientation that Friday one week from my PCP referral and then was told to call the following Monday morning to register for the next Options class. That class began on Wed. Tomorrow will be #4 of the 12 required Options classes. All surgeries except lap-band are now done in-house at St. Bernadine's by one of 2 Kaiser Bariatric Surgeons Dr. Peter Fedorka or Dr Phillip Chin. The labs are all done following class #2. Class #3 is considered your surgeons seminar. At the conclusion of the 12 classes you will need clearance from your PCP, Bariatriction and Psyc/MFT. Then you will be scheduled for surgery. My last class is April2 25th so I am hoping for surgery in May.

FAQ/Answers for Kaiser Fontana

• 10% of excess weight loss recommended
  
• Missed Options classes must be made up and only 2 made up misses allowed.
  
• if you gain before surgery it may be postponed
  
• There is no limit to how much you can loose or how low BMI, one person lost 110lbs and still wanted to go ahead with surgery so they did. Approval for class is approval for surgery if you do all labs etc.
  
• You must attend a support group once before the end of the 12 Options classes
  
• Liquid diet only required day before surgery but can be done to boost weight loss
  
• average stay in hospital is 2-3 days
  
• Have to go to Redlands for an Initial Operation meeting, a Pre-Op meeting and 2 post-op visits then 2-3 more visits in Fontana over the 12 months
  
• After Options program is completed you have one year to decide if you want to have the surgery and you will not have to repeat the Options classes
  

Great TOPIC! I looked all over for this info a few months ago when I wanted to know the Kaiser details and it was so difficult to find.

Thanks for this thread. I found it during a search as I too have Kaiser.

I'm waiting for a revision from Lap Band to Vertical Gastric Sleeve, and my tentative date is April 3rd, 2012.

Kaiser has been great insurance for me and my husband. We pay out of pocket for our insurance, and our Primary Care Physician is probably the most caring physician that I've ever had.

Update:

On Wednesday I called about getting in an Options class because I had waited the week and had not heard from anyone. I left a message and got a call back and got scheduled in the Friday morning class that starts today! So my fear of not getting in these classes for a month or two has not come to pass. I hope everything keeps moving this smoothly.

I set up my appt for PCP to seek referral in early Jan

Earliest appt avail was Jan 30

I got my referral on Jan 30 and waited about a week to get a call from Health Ed then called them myself

Got scheduled for 2/22 Orientation

Called a week later to ask about my class and got in the class starting March 2. Last class will be on May 18!

I am hoping I can get my surgery late June. (crossing fingers!)

I did my options orientation on 2/23 and have my first class on the 20th of this month. I am excited, but nervous.

I'll, of course, be posting religiously once my classes start and i move even closer to THE date.

I also completed the options program at Fontana. My last class was december 21. Finally recieved a call for preliminary exam last week. Am scheduled for my mental health eval on march 12. I was told that I would meet with the surgeon about a week after. Final clearance with pcp after, hopefully surgery 2-3 weeks after. I'm still concerned about taking time off. I do work at kaiser and they've been great but I haven't old anyone at work my plans, only a few close friends and my daughter. The only problem I have is the requirement for us to attend a support group. I don't like to talk about my private life in front of a lot of strangers, or for that matter a few. I like this site due to the privacy (or illusion)

Hello, I am a fontana kaiser patient. I completed my options class 3-27-12. I have completed all the requirements they have asked of me. Vitamin levels, sleep study, support group, and labs. I'm excited to move on to the next step. I'm hoping to have surgery soon. :-)

My update:

I finished options on April 4th. The Options LVN coordinator emailed me the next day to say she submitted my chart to the doctor for surgery approval and she asked where I wanted to have surgery. I chose Fountain Valley Hospital which is contracted by Kaiser. The surgeon's office called me on 4/16. They emailed me paperwork to fill out and a video to watch on the sleeve surgery. The surgery scheduler called me on 4/19 and we scheduled my surgery for 5/23. I could have scheduled it sooner but that date worked best for me.

I had an appointment with my surgeon the following Monday. Her name is Kelly Francis. The appointment was quick. She answered a few questions I had and that was it. She was very nice. I went to a mandatory nutrition class the next day and that's it. All I have left is pre-op labs the week before surgery then the surgery. I am going on a liquid diet for a week before surgery.

I am pretty excited and just a little nervous. Not really nervous about the surgery, more about the life changes I'll be making after surgery.

Anyone use dr. Michael Fishman in Livingston new jersey? Hospital is morristown

Does anyone know if Kaiser uses a certain size bougie as a standard, or is the size left up to the individual surgeon?

I had my surgery by Dr Kelly Francis. I have lost about 73 lbs and have had no complications. Congrats! Wow your surgery was scheduled really quick.

Hi everyone!!!

I'm just starting my journey. I saw my PCP on May 31, 2012 and a week later got a call to set up orientation so I have orientation this Friday June 22, 2012. Ive read ALOT about Fontana taking a long time to get the surgery done and that makes me a little discouraged but im hoping its wrong and Ill be ready for surgery within a few months I will Be sure to keep my story updated as I go along with the process

May 31, 2012 - PCP appointment & Referral Sent

June 22, 2012 - Orientation at Kaiser, Fontana CA

Hi everyone!!!

I'm just starting my journey. I saw my PCP on May 31' date=' 2012 and a week later got a call to set up orientation so I have orientation this Friday June 22, 2012. Ive read ALOT about Fontana taking a long time to get the surgery done and that makes me a little discouraged but im hoping its wrong and Ill be ready for surgery within a few months I will Be sure to keep my story updated as I go along with the process

May 31, 2012 - PCP appointment & Referral Sent

June 22, 2012 - Orientation at Kaiser, Fontana CA[/quote']

Welcome congrats on starting this journey, but it is a long one. I am also out of the fontana office.

I had my referral send in December and started options the week of January I completed the program on March 27 and still haven't seen, nor do I have an appointment to see a surgeon.

Welcome congrats on starting this journey, but it is a long one. I am also out of the fontana office.

I had my referral send in December and started options the week of January I completed the program on March 27 and still haven't seen, nor do I have an appointment to see a surgeon.

Thats no good :/ Have you completed all the other requirements? What all have the required of you?