Kaiser DC/MD/VA surgery timeline

Last summer when I started thinking seriously about bariatric surgery, I had trouble finding info on the timeline for Kaiser patients in the DC/MD/VA area. So for anyone who's interested, here's the process (and my timeline):

• Got a referral from my primary care provider (9/3/19)
• 1/2 WLS class with a nutritionist (9/19/19)
• 1/4 appt with a nutritionist (10/23/19)
• 1/2 Surgeon-led bariatric info session @ Holy Cross (11/12/19)
• 2/4 appt with a nutritionist (11/22/19)
• 2/2 Surgeon-led bariatric info session @ Holy Cross (11/27/19)
• 2/2 WLS class with a nutritionist (12/20/19)
• 3/4 appt with a nutritionist (1/16/20)
• 4/4 appt with a nutritionist (2/12/20)
• Got approved for surgery (2/14/20)
• Appt with surgeon @ Holy Cross to schedule surgery (3/3/20)

It's designed to be a six-month program starting with your referral and ending with the appt with your surgeon to schedule surgery (with variety of mandatory classes and one-on-one sessions spread out over the course of those six months). Here are some of the other requirements you have to take care of before a board will review your medical record and approve you for surgery:

• Ideally, you lose some weight, but there aren't a set number of pounds you have to lose.
• Behavioral health evaluation
• H-Pylori antibody stool test
• Sleep apnea screening
• Write a letter to the surgeon about why you want to have surgery

Although my nutritionist is at South Baltimore County Medical Center, the only two bariatric surgeons currently available for Kaiser patients in the DMV are at Holy Cross in Silver Springs. My surgery will likely be at Largo Medical Center, and once it's scheduled, I'll update this post but I've been told to expect a six to eight week wait.

I hope this helps!