Question:
Need info on Compass/Louisiana surgeons and facilities

I know some others here have used or are using Compass; I would like to hear about their experiences with Compass. Also, I read the reviews for Dr. Hargroder and River West and they seemed excellent. Does anyone have any information to share on Hargroder and RWMC, or any other surgeons and hospitals in the North or Central Louisiana area?    — Jeanie (posted on August 21, 2002)

August 21, 2002
I used the Compass program. They were called Images when I went through them. They were excellent! The staff at Compass were so kind and easy to work with. They got my insurance approval with ease. They took care of every detail of my trip to Louisiana and home. The hospital was small but friendly and well equipped with an ICU if needed. The staff were so kind and attentive. They have a bariatric unit. Dr Hargroder is a very experienced lap surgeon. Although he has only been doing the Lap RNY for about six months, he has extensive experience with other GI surgeries. I was very pleased with him, both professionally, as well as personally. If you are traveling for the surgery, you will need a good PCP and maybe a dietician at home to help in your follow up care. Feel free to email me if you have more questions. [email protected] Good luck! Mary LAP RNY 6-4-02
   — maryburton

September 1, 2002
My surgery was a success as a RNY Medial Lap completed August 23rd. I must admit the morning after the surgery I really had to ask myself why I would do such a thing to my body??? But I am very happy to say that I do not doubt my choice now. I came out of recovery with a verrrry bad sore and painful back...I could of cared less about the stomach my back hurt so bad... that I think took longer to get rid of then the RNY Pain. Here is my journey.... I used a Company Called Compass formally known as Images. I submitted ALL of my information online on June 10th.... Compass said that the only hospital at the time when I applied that would except my insurance (BCBS) for their program was in Baton Rouge, LA... DR. ANDREW HARGRODER. I was very nervous about flying so far but I was assured by many other patients that Dr. Hargroder is well worth it. Compass Airboured my "Letter of Medical Necessity" to my insurance on July 19th the received it the 20th and I got my phone call from BCBS on July 23rd saying it had been approved....I had just been told by a person online chat at ObesityHelp.com that Dr. Hargroder had opened up surgery dates on Friday's in August. So I called my compass rep and got a Surgery date for August 23rd.... Compass handled EVERYTHING! They paid for air travel; hotel accommodations, meals and we even got to drive around in a LIMO! The only money out of my pocket was tips.... and a few items for my family. I do have some insurance out of pocket costs and I had to pay $100 up front for the psych. evaluation. The uncovered insurance cost is set up on payments for 1 year! I had met someone named Kellie online who was in the same steps as I was and we were able to schedule our surgery for the same day (she flew from California). We met up at the DFW Airport on our connecting flight and our journey began. We got into New Orleans about 5pm Weds. Aug. 21 and where driven by Lincoln town car from the airport to a wonderful place called Nottoway Plantation about 1.25 hrs from the airport. The driver was very friendly and told us lots of stories about others he had meant. We arrived rather late but we got to have a wonderful dinner at a VERY HIGH DOLLAR restaurant (no charge to us)...OUR LAST MEAL... as they say... Mine was prime rib YUMMY... We got done with dinner about 9pm went to our rooms and gabbed a bit then went to bed. Thurs. 8/22 the Town Car picked us up at 6:30AM and drove us to Riverwest medical center for a full day of consults and tests. We did Lab tests, chest xray, upper GI, Ultrasounds of liver/gallbladder first. They we had to do some blood gas thing... that hurt a little... and a EKG.... We ate lunch with the Compass rep Cindy Johnson and Kristi from Dr. Hargorders office and they are both delightful! Then back upstairs to our ward (this hospital has one ward dedicated to bariatric treatment and surgery) for a consult with out dietitian, our surgeon and the director Jay Ivy. Meeting Dr. Hargorder was great; this guy is not only GREAT ON THE EYES... but a wonderful, skilled and honest surgeon! They do not take chances and will send you home if they feel by test results or psych. eval that you are not right for this surgery. There were 2 people that were supposed to have surgery Thurs. but got postponed to Monday because of questions in the lab results.... The Dr. does not mess around and he cares! He did say that between Kellie and myself we asked alot more questions then most.... nothing like a little tag team. Dr. sent us home with this 4-liter jug of colyate (YUCK). That we were instructed to drink no less than half before 9pm..... After meeting with Dr. Hargroder we met Dr. Jay Ivy that went over all of our tests and personal info.... GUESS what I learned I have diabetes... great huh... how did my Primary doctor miss that one....Kellie also learned for the first time she had diabetes also... Jay was great also! Now we were whisked of to you psych.. eval. now this was interesting to say the least! We took 3 tests there and had filled out our life history before we even got there. After the tests we talked with Dr. Nemeth about the tests and us and she told us strait up if we were cleared for surgery and if there were any conditions attached. These are some of the items used to determine if we were good candidates for this surgery! Adult Life History Questionnaire, Shipley Institute of Living Scale (IQ has to be greater than 100), Eating Disorder Inventory, Clinical Analysis Questionnaire and the Clinical Interview. It was determined that I was well suited for the surgery mentally and she felt that it was a GOOD choice for me. Kellie was also cleared under the condition that she follow-up with a local Dr. for panic attacks. We finally got back to the Nottoway late that evening and went to dinner at the restaurant, we both chose to eat light because our colyate cocktails were waiting for us in the room. We sat in my room and drank this stuff for about 1 1/2 and had to have 1/2 of the 4 litters drank before 9 pm.... For those of you wondering what a colyate cocktail is .... it CLEANS YOU OUT........ We parted ways because duty called and went to bed about 10:30pm. (they gave us something to help us sleep)! YIPPEEEEE We got up again to be picked up at 6:30am for surgery on Friday 8/23. We brought our bags with us to the hospital and they took us right to our rooms. We put our stuff in our rooms and tried to relax. I got to have surgery first at 9am. I was taken down to surgery and everyone was soooooo friendly! Dr. Hargorder was they're talking with me... They gave me an IV and started wheeling me into surgery.... I remember going through to big doors and saying please someone check on Kellie, she is very nervous and that is it folks.... I was out! The next thing I remember is fuzzy but I was being taken from recovery to my room.... I remember my back pain being HORRIBLE and lots of nurses there giving me pillows and helping me to get settled... I also found my friend Mr. morphine pump! Oh... ALSO THEY MAKE YOU GET UP AND MOVE AROUND THAT DAY OF SURGERY! I was pretty dazed through the night... nurses came and went and watched over me all night.... DAY 2 SAT.... I felt like S_ _ _! I wondered what the hell I was doing to myself.... The nurse's came in took my friend the morphine pump away and said from now on pain meds would be by shots.... They got me up walking around first thing that morning.... It hurt... but I am glad I did it now! I was not given breakfast because they had to do the leak check first! The teck came to get me and took me for another wonderful upper GI. I choose to stand while waiting for the test... my back still hurt like h _ _ _! My drain (which I like to call my little alien baby was leaking everywhere). I did the test and got to go back to my room. Later that late morning Dr. Hargroder came in and said no leaks talked with me a bit and the nursed brought me ICE CHIPS YUMMMY. That night I got my first taste of chicken broth and green Jell-O...... DAY 3, 4, 5 SUN, MON, TUES..... Each day I felt better! and better! I did not take ANY pain medication since they took me off of the morphine the first morning. I can honestly say that the hardest things became... WHIPPING MY ASS (sorry to be blunt), eating yellow chicken broth / Green Jell-O, being boarded out of my mind, my little alien leaking all over the place, oh and the nurses waking you up just after you fall asleep to take vitals.... On a sad note I also learned that my sister in-law passed from cancer on Monday. I just prayed that I would make it home in time for her services! DAY 6 WEDS.... I felt good... and wanted out of the hospital, Kellie and I spent most of our day talking with others and wondering around. The ward became very full because the had the two extra surgeries from last week and we volunteered to go to a hotel that night... The hospital liked the idea and the Dr. released us and we were free. Before we left they removed my little leaking alien and staples. I had to wear large gauze pad because of the leaking. The LIMO came and got us and took us to the hotel. We showered and got all that YUCK hospital stuff off and we went to the lobby of the hotel for happy hour! Of course we didn't drink but it was nice to be out! DAY 7 THURS... The Limo picked us up at 8am we where in the lobby eating our first non-hospital meal. I had Yogurt! YUMMY. Sugar Free light of course! The trip back was not bad... Kellie and I parted ways in DFW just were we met and I got home about 4PM... I WAS SOOOOOOOO HAPPY to be home! My husband picked me up and we went to get my daughter and go home. I cooked dinner for the family and then had to go to Wal-Mart and get some items because we had my sister-in laws funeral to go to the next morning. DAY 8 FRIDAY! SAD DAY! My sister-in-laws funeral! It was sad and emotional! We were out from 9 am to about 6pm and I was tired! I came home watched some TV and hit the sack! TODAY! I got up at 9am, took a 4 hr nap this afternoon and I feel great! I have been able to eat everything with very little problems so far. I have tried egg salad, cheese cubes, chicken (CHEW CHEW CHEW), cottage cheese, soft egg and toast. Beverages are harder! Water seems to be the most satisfying, but sugar free juices ect are just toooooo sweet tasting for me right now! I really feel great! By the time I left the hospital I had lost 14 pounds and if my home scale is right I have lost 20 pounds which I am not real sure about but hope to confirm soooon. I know this is long but I wanted to share with you all my journey! I will see you all Weds. Night! Jessica Post-OP -20 lbs
   — jessmessen