Question:
Bariatric Treatment Centers vs Wish Center in Arizona?
I am trying to see if there are any recent opinions about either WLS clinic? I have an appointment with The Wish Center for evaluation on September 30, but just received an information packet from the Bariatric Treatment Center in Scottsdale so would love to know if anyone has direct experience with either and if so what doctors? — Arizona_Sun (posted on September 13, 2003)
September 13, 2003
Well, I am a little partial to The Wish Center (TWC). I had my surgery with
TWC here in the Chgo area on May 7th of this year. They have a fantastic
program with their 8 week practice diet. I thought it was a crazy idea at
first but it really taught me how I was going to have to eat for the rest
of my life after surgery. They take a well rounded approach to your surgery
and new life after surgery. All of your apts are right at the center you do
not have to chase around seeing doctors at other locations. My doctor,
nutritionist, exercise physiotherapist, blood work, psych doc and patient
liason were all at one location. I could contact them with any question
that I had before surgery and now even after. For example I recently had
some blood work done with another doctor and I sent the results to TWC and
they called me and went over the results with me. They are there to help
you succeed with your weight loss. And they have a fantastic support group
that meets monthly plus if you cannot get to the meeting they have a
monthly online chat the day after. My doctor is Dr Jeff Rosen. Some of TWC
doctors will travel btwn the 4 different centers and from what I understand
they all are great. Go on TWC's web site www.wishcenter.org and check them
out. You can of course email me and ask me any question that you may have
also. One thing is that there are very few insurance companies that are
in network for TWC and mine was not one of them. My insurance is covering
me for 80% and my husband's is picking up the other 20%. Good luck in your
search.
— ChristineB
September 13, 2003
I live in Phoenix. Recently, someone wrote me from this site and they told
me that EVEN THOUGH they had good insurance, The Wish Center wanted (it was
either $2000 or $3000) before they would even schedule the surgery date.
That struck me as odd. After conducting research purely based on the
surgeon's experience, I decided to go with the St. Luke's WL Program (Dr.
Juarez). They have all of the pre-education/post-surgery followup and
support. My experience has been wonderful and I was never asked for a
penny ahead of time. My surgery ended up costing over 28k and all I was
asked for was the co-pay my insurance company requires for a 2-day hospital
stay. Everything else (which ended up to be a TOTAL of $875 was just
billed - they were more concerned with my health and post-op program than
the money. You need to choose based on your own criteria. I've heard good
things about both of those centers' doctors. For me, I didn't go to Wish
purely because they seemed to be a 'factory' of sorts and I liked Dr.
Juarez more than Blackstone. Probably because I'd met more post-ops of
his.
— Donya P.
September 13, 2003
I had surgery w/ Dr. Schlessinger at BTC in IL before he moved to AZ. I
LOVE HIM!!!!! he gave me my whole new life. I really like the whole program
at BTC they have been so helpful when I have questions and phonecalls.
— **willow**
September 13, 2003
First poster again, the $2,000 that Donielle talks about is to cover the
incidentals that the insurance does not cover right away. I was not
required to pay this until my second visit after my 8 wk practice diet. You
can call TWC and speak with the billing department and ask them exactly
what out of pocket expenses you will pay. They are very upfront with your
costs and do not hide any of that from you. I gladly paid it because I had
been waiting for the surgery for a long time, especially after another
doctor denied me because I have microscopic colitis (MC). My doctor at TWC
knew everything about my medical background and I had to get a clearance
from my gastro doc for the surgery as did Dr Rosen also talked to a
different gastro doc to make sure I was a good candidate being that I have
MC.
— ChristineB
September 13, 2003
Don't know about your particular BTC, but I had mine at the BTC in Wylie
Tx, and it was the BEST hospital stay I have ever had. My surgeon was
fantastic. If I left a message for her, she literally would call me within
5 minutes most times.
One thing that I really liked about BTC, is that they have a very good
success rate with their procedures. The chain of hospitals is operated
under pretty strict guidlines about how much intestine is to be bypassed,
how big the stoma is supposed to be, what weight surgical thread to use,
how to check for leaks, etc... Every single surgery they do is performed
exactly the same way. For me, this was a plus. They try to balance maximum
weight loss against minimizing malapbsortion issues. Of course, you have to
evaluate the way they do the surgery and see if you think it will work for
you.
Overall, I have been more impressed with BTC than I have been with any
other health provider in 40 years of existence. I would suggest checking
out both places with an initial consult.
— Greg P.
September 14, 2003
There is also the AZ Bariatric Center in Phoenix.
http://www.doctorsimpson.com/index2.phtml Since Dr Simpson does the DS I
hope you'll look into it; you can research DS at duodenalswitch.com. There
will be a Walk from Obesity in Phx next Saturday 9/20; the details are on
Dr S's message board. You might like to go and meet some DS post ops to see
what life is really like for us, despite the peculiar rumors out there! The
Walk is nationwide, so other people researching WLS can do the same.
http://www.walkfromobesity.com/locationmap.php
— Chris T.
September 14, 2003
I am also partial to the wish center. I had mine last year at the one here
in Downers Grove illinois. My surgeon was Dr. Weinke. I think he is out of
Arizona now. He is wonderful and did a great job on me. I am feeling fine
and never had any problems. They treated me well and taught me all I needed
to know to be successful. I say go with the Wish Center. Good Luck to you.
— Kimberly T.
September 14, 2003
Cast one vote for BTC. I too had my surgery in their Texas facility and
was very impressed with the caliber of my hospital stay and my aftercare.
Very accomodating people. This is all they do, they do it well and pride
themselves on no failures.
— Margaret G.
September 14, 2003
I went to both the Wish Center's seminar, as well as attending the
Scottsdale bariatric seminar, under Dr Blackstone. (Wish Center, at that
time anyhow, didn't accept Cigna)
The ONLY thing that impressed me about the Wish Center is they set you up
with ONE DAY to get it all done, like your Psych eval, pre-op testing and
such. I liked THAT aspect of it. But, I have to agree with another
poster, it seemed like the puppy mill of bariatric surgery centers to me.
They couldn't hardly WAIT to get you signed up. My GOD, I had a
packet/folder in hand before I left that hospital!!
Even a few days after, they were calling me, asking me about "my
decission". At this stage, I was really just doing my homework, and
not ready to committ just yet. I wanted to ask her, "what, is the
cash-flow running low @ the bank, or something???? LOL, GEESH! It only
made me feel pressured, and not cared about.
I was "on guard" when I went to Dr. Blackstones seminar, fully
expcting to see, hear, and experience the same thing, but in MY eyes, it
was worlds apart as far as the committment and caring. I felt she was a
very genuine, loving person and was def. competent to handle these
surgeries. Not to say Wish Center surgeons aren't, I just had a much more
"at ease" feeling.
So, now once I complete my 26 weeks this month, I'll re-submitt to Cigna
ONE AGAIN, and hopefully get approved. (I'm on a second level appeal, and
they up-held my denial pending completion of my diet)
— [Deactivated Member]
September 14, 2003
The bariatric treatment center in scottsdale is great! The wish center
seemed, like they are in it more for profit.Dr Simpsons program also
requires an upfront out of pocket fee.
— jennifer A.
September 14, 2003
im baaack! I though of other plusses for BTC. I didn't HAVE to do a thing
for the insurance they handled it all, No stoopid diet pre op, all preop
testing was completed on 1 day also, in aprox 2 hour visit 1 week prioe to
surgery. Total organizaion on that stuff. I personally did not have to
spend a lot out patient on seeing specialists, no psych consult etc... It
was an easy process, first consult mid july 2002 , surgery 9/25/2002, they
could have gotten me in by the end of August if I hadn't had to give 30
days notice at work.
— **willow**
September 14, 2003
I too check out both TWC and BTC. I finally decided I didn't need all the
requirements TWC required. They are very detailed about what they want you
to learn and absolutly know before WLS but I felt that I didn't need all
the "hand-holding" they offered because I did a lot of research
on my own. I knew what I was doing, how it was being done, why it was
being done, and exactly what I expected life to be like later. Now 9
months later I am very happy I chose BTC.
— jocelyn
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