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Topic: Banner Gateway
Okay so I am posting out of anger and hopw someone can help me allieviate this. I have had all of my preop testing done for 2 weeks now with no response back from Dr. P's office. I have emailed 3 times. 2 times to my case manager and once to front staff and left 2 messages. I have been speaking to someone who just had surgery from Dr. P and he had similar journey with this office. Unproffesional and unorganized. Front staff tells me one thing, manager tells me another. He will no longer see Dr.P and will be switching. The whole thing makes me nervous, and I am not this type of person. PLEASE HELP! Is this anyones else's judgement of this office?
I have a very good feeling about DR. P but cant fathom dealing with this in a stressful time.
Thanks for your undserstanding and advice.
Jena
I have a very good feeling about DR. P but cant fathom dealing with this in a stressful time.
Thanks for your undserstanding and advice.
Jena
Topic: RE: Dr. Blackstone's "Patient Liason" rude additude, anyone else?
Joyce
Rny 2/11/03-> ERny 12/26/07-> Duodenal Switch 5/12/2010
www.dsfacts.com , www.dssurgery.com , & www.duodenalswitch.com
Congrats on your surgery Sara! Dr. Blackstone is a great surgeon so hopefully the "technical difficulties" get worked out soon. I agree that the surgeon is the main point one should consider when shopping but that customer service can sweeten the pot for a total program experience! That's why insurances recognize programs that have the rating of "Center of Excellence" rather than Surgeon's of Excellence.
So, how are you doing? Melting away?
WLS is an amazing journey for most of us! ..... Great milestones are just around the corner.....
So, how are you doing? Melting away?
WLS is an amazing journey for most of us! ..... Great milestones are just around the corner.....
Joyce Rny 2/11/03-> ERny 12/26/07-> Duodenal Switch 5/12/2010
www.dsfacts.com , www.dssurgery.com , & www.duodenalswitch.com
Topic: RE: Support groups near Scottsdale Healthcare??
Shae,
I'm positive that Dr Messer wanted you to attend one of the support groups FOR patients of Scottsdale Healthcare Bariatric. They are held right at the Scottsdale Shea Hospital in the Conference Center - where the informational seminars are held. I know there's one coming up this Wednesday 4/21 evening - I'm not sure what time (I'm from Tucson and I'll be in Scottsdale for my 1 month post op appointment and I'm planning on staying for the support group). I'm sure if you call the office they can tell you the details.
Everyone, FYI, the link to Scottsdale Bariatric's website posted above no longer works. I assume that's because of their merger with Scottsdale Healthcare. What a pain, they could at least redirect us to the new website, huh?
Good luck with everything!
Sara
I'm positive that Dr Messer wanted you to attend one of the support groups FOR patients of Scottsdale Healthcare Bariatric. They are held right at the Scottsdale Shea Hospital in the Conference Center - where the informational seminars are held. I know there's one coming up this Wednesday 4/21 evening - I'm not sure what time (I'm from Tucson and I'll be in Scottsdale for my 1 month post op appointment and I'm planning on staying for the support group). I'm sure if you call the office they can tell you the details.
Everyone, FYI, the link to Scottsdale Bariatric's website posted above no longer works. I assume that's because of their merger with Scottsdale Healthcare. What a pain, they could at least redirect us to the new website, huh?
Good luck with everything!
Sara
Topic: RE: Dr. Blackstone's "Patient Liason" rude additude, anyone else?
I had VSG with Dr Blackstone on 3/23/10.
Sometime at the beginning of this year, Scottsdale Bariatric Center (Dr Blackstone's original practice) merged with Scottsdale Healthcare (they run the Shea hospital, among other things). Aparently this merger caused TONS of problems (in my own experience: phone numbers & fax numbers being changed without notifying patients, email addresses bouncing, their website is down and has been for weeks, calls to the 24-hour "hotline" not being answered and messages not returned for 2 days, and just poor record keeping). I had consulted with Dr Blackstone over 5 years ago and already knew I wanted her for my surgeon when I decided to go ahead at "do it" late 2009. Unfortunately, I too, had (and am still having) issues with several members of her nursing/administrative staff. It's not Terry that I have had problems with, but 3 other employees have had me in or near tears on separate occaisions. Having said that, Dr Blackstone and Melissa are FANTASTIC and I believe that they are without question one of, if not the, very best bariatric teams in the world. I don't know if the staffing issues are just temporary & merger-related, or if these types of things are part of doing business with them, but I don't have any regrets in choosing Dr Blackstone as my surgeon. I guess I'm willing to deal with people with no customer service and poor communication skills in order to have the very best possible medical care.
That's my two cents.
Sometime at the beginning of this year, Scottsdale Bariatric Center (Dr Blackstone's original practice) merged with Scottsdale Healthcare (they run the Shea hospital, among other things). Aparently this merger caused TONS of problems (in my own experience: phone numbers & fax numbers being changed without notifying patients, email addresses bouncing, their website is down and has been for weeks, calls to the 24-hour "hotline" not being answered and messages not returned for 2 days, and just poor record keeping). I had consulted with Dr Blackstone over 5 years ago and already knew I wanted her for my surgeon when I decided to go ahead at "do it" late 2009. Unfortunately, I too, had (and am still having) issues with several members of her nursing/administrative staff. It's not Terry that I have had problems with, but 3 other employees have had me in or near tears on separate occaisions. Having said that, Dr Blackstone and Melissa are FANTASTIC and I believe that they are without question one of, if not the, very best bariatric teams in the world. I don't know if the staffing issues are just temporary & merger-related, or if these types of things are part of doing business with them, but I don't have any regrets in choosing Dr Blackstone as my surgeon. I guess I'm willing to deal with people with no customer service and poor communication skills in order to have the very best possible medical care.
That's my two cents.
Topic: RE: Where can I ride my bicycle in the Phoenix general area??
ASU is generally not a pretty campus, pretty areas but not a pretty campus. It is very much like a small city unto itself and definitely isn't a scenic hotspot. The town lake and papago do get some college students but not a ton b/c frankly college students generally aren't into long bike rides on the weekends ;) From my experience anyway.
Rebecca
Rebecca
3 1/2 Marathons down!!! Getting ready to try a marathon!
Day of surgery - 252.5 Highest weight - 269 Goal weight - 134, reached!!
Day of surgery - 252.5 Highest weight - 269 Goal weight - 134, reached!!
Topic: RE: AFTERCARE SUPPORT
Does anyone go to St Lukes for fills etc and do you like it? I plan to begin attending a support group on the west side once I get there.
Thanks, Jean
Hi Jean!
Banner Gateway with Dr. Podkamini (Gilbert area which is a drive from Westside but very worth it)
There's quite a few "snow birds" that come in just for the winter months .....they are treated so well by Dr. Podkamini.
Call and ask for Kathy W. at Bridges St Luke's. She's super duper wonderful in every way and will help guide you with their program if you decide to go with ST Luke's. (Phoenix and NOT Tempe).
I look forward to meeting you! Congrats on your band!
Joyce
Rny 2/11/03-> ERny 12/26/07-> Duodenal Switch 5/12/2010
www.dsfacts.com , www.dssurgery.com , & www.duodenalswitch.com
On April 18, 2010 at 7:17 AM Pacific Time, Jean135 wrote:
I had my lapband surgery on 04/13 and I am doing fine so far medically. I will be moving to the Phoenix area in less than a month and will need to set up both medical aftercare as well as emotional aftercare. I have called all the hospitals in the Phoenix area and can find only one that takes transfer patients and that is St Lukes. I called them but the woman that I spoke too wasn't the friendliest :) Does anyone go to St Lukes for fills etc and do you like it? I plan to begin attending a support group on the west side once I get there.
Thanks, Jean
Banner Gateway with Dr. Podkamini (Gilbert area which is a drive from Westside but very worth it)
There's quite a few "snow birds" that come in just for the winter months .....they are treated so well by Dr. Podkamini.
Call and ask for Kathy W. at Bridges St Luke's. She's super duper wonderful in every way and will help guide you with their program if you decide to go with ST Luke's. (Phoenix and NOT Tempe).
I look forward to meeting you! Congrats on your band!
Joyce Rny 2/11/03-> ERny 12/26/07-> Duodenal Switch 5/12/2010
www.dsfacts.com , www.dssurgery.com , & www.duodenalswitch.com
Topic: RE: Reminder-Costa Mesa Event in May!
Gail & I are all signed up and ready to go. California, here we come (in May that is).
Topic: AFTERCARE SUPPORT
I had my lapband surgery on 04/13 and I am doing fine so far medically. I will be moving to the Phoenix area in less than a month and will need to set up both medical aftercare as well as emotional aftercare. I have called all the hospitals in the Phoenix area and can find only one that takes transfer patients and that is St Lukes. I called them but the woman that I spoke too wasn't the friendliest :)
Does anyone go to St Lukes for fills etc and do you like it? I plan to begin attending a support group on the west side once I get there.
Thanks, Jean
Does anyone go to St Lukes for fills etc and do you like it? I plan to begin attending a support group on the west side once I get there.
Thanks, Jean
Topic: RE: Support Group Info for 2010
(those who attend support groups are those who obtain their weight loss goals and maintain for a lifetime!)
Pick a group and pencil it in! Own your success!! Protect your health!! Celebrate your life!! Pay it forward!!
Tucson Area:
St. Joseph's also has one on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6:30-8:30 at the St. Joseph's Auditorium. All are welcome Dr. Blackstone Support Group in Tucson is the 1st Saturday of the month to be held at Sheraton on Grant Road from 10:00-11:30. This is for SBC patients only.
St. Joseph's is the last Saturday of the month at St. Joseph's Auditorium from 10:00-12:00 open to everyone.
Tucson NOAG is Last Thursday of the Month at 7:00 at UMC Rm. 5408, open to all. ----
North West meeting7-8:30 PM each 3rd Monday of the month at the Northwest Medical Center Classrooms A-D 6200 N LaCholla Blvd. Classrooms are off the main lobby behind the cafeteria. New attendees in classroom D at 6:30 PM.
---- Eastside meeting7-8:30 PM on the first Tuesday of each month at Evangelical Covenant Church, 551 N. Camino Seco, between Broadway and Speedway, on the West side of the street. As always new attendees will be at 6:30.
Phoenix Area:
**Chandler WLS Support– 4th Tuesday at Chandler Regional Hospital, 6-7:30 pm OPEN to ALL! Peer Facilitated. Frye & Dobson. Enter from East Main entrance (by E.R.) and take elevator’s down to conference rooms 1 and 2 (This has been changed to quarterly with occasional get together’s….check support site for updates)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chandler_WLSSupport/join
Banner Gateway Support- **1st Tuesday 6-7:30 and **2nd Weds 6-7:30 and 3rd Weds 4:30 Professionally facilitated. OPEN to ALL (room down from the cafeteria) http://www.bannerhealth.com/_Bariatric/Bariatric+Center+Loca tions/Banner+Gateway_Bariatric_Center/Patient+Support/_Suppo rt+Groups.htm
**AZ Grads of WLS- 1st Tues, 5:30 at Bridges Centre, Phx St Luke's. OPEN to ALL who are 1 year post-op, Peer Facilitated: usually by Joyce or her hubby, Jim J http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/JRinAZ_group/discussion/ Come to GRADS then stay for the general support mtg @ 6:30!
Bridges St Luke's in Phoenix- 1st Tuesday at 6:30, OPEN to ALL, Psych facilitated, Bridges Education Room, 555 N. 18th E., Phx
Tempe St Luke’s – 2nd Saturday of every month, 1 p.m. ERny and DS group, 3rd Thursday of every month, 6 p.m.
Sun City - second Saturday of the month at 10;30 - noon. We meet in the Sun City room at the corner of 103rd & Coggins. If you have any questions of comments, please email Ann or call in the evenings at 623-249-4924.
Sun City Morning Group - Wednesday morning support group. It will be at 8:30-10:00A.M. The fourth Wednesday of each month. It will be held in the Menke Sun City Meeting Room in Sun City. All type of WLS are invited. Bring your support person if you would like. Hope to see you.
Debbie (dbuckeye)
Paradise Valley Hospital Support Groups are now being held at Paradise Valley Hopsital. They are open to all patients and are topic driven. Healthcare providers will help facilitate the support groups. All are welcome and they are FREE of Charge. The same speaker/topic will be for both sessions. The topic will be approx 30 minutes with open support discussion following
When: 2nd Tuesday of the Month 6pm - 7:30pm Modular Classroom 3rd Saturday 11am-1pm Cafeteria Classroom
Where: 3929 E. Bell Road. Phoenix Corner of Bell Road and the 51
**WLS West Valley Support Group:
WLS West Valley is a support group that meets twice a month on the first and third Saturdays of each month. It is a group designed for people who are pre-op or post-op for any kind of weight loss surgery.
The meetings are PEER FACILITATED, FREE, and will be held at Banner Estrella Hospital in the Conference Rooms located at 93rd Avenue and Thomas Road from 10:30 AM to Noon. The conference rooms are located just west of the main hospital entrance.
We look forward to meeting you!
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/WLSWestValley/
There are other support groups in these areas that are affiliated with Bariatric programs and are closed to guests unless you are attending with one of their patient’s specifically. They are great programs….
**And…there are other support groups spattered around the state outside of Tucson and Phoenix. For instance, check out: http://tricitywls.com/ This Prescott Valley group totally rocks! A fun day trip could include a trip to visit them. Get out of the heat, see their fun city, enjoy a dinner out and then join them for an evening of support! I’ve done that plan and LOVED it!
There's a support group for anyone that has had/is considering any form of weight loss surgery in Yuma. It meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm at the Yuma Regional Corporate Center on the corner of 32nd St & 4th Ave Extension.
So, can I save you a seat?......
Shoot me a note at: [email protected] OR [email protected]
C U soon!!!
Reminder of upcoming support meetings!
Tomorrow (Sat): WLS West Valley- 10:30 - noon at Banner Estrella Conf room (see above for details)
Weds- Banner Gateway Psych - 4:30-6:00 , special guest speaker...SEX therapist addressing issues of every type regarding intimacy following Weight Loss Surgery . EVERYONE is invited and welcome to attend.
Tuesday the 27th - Chandler WLS support Group's quarterly meeting. 6 pm ....Focus on "Where are you now and Where do you want to be AND...options to make it happen!" ALL are invited but those who are over a year out may benefit most! Dinner at Mimi's will follow:)
Joyce
Rny 2/11/03-> ERny 12/26/07-> Duodenal Switch 5/12/2010
www.dsfacts.com , www.dssurgery.com , & www.duodenalswitch.com
On March 20, 2010 at 4:08 PM Pacific Time, JRinAZ wrote:
Support Group Information for Tucson and Phoenix Metro(those who attend support groups are those who obtain their weight loss goals and maintain for a lifetime!)
Pick a group and pencil it in! Own your success!! Protect your health!! Celebrate your life!! Pay it forward!!
Tucson Area:
St. Joseph's also has one on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6:30-8:30 at the St. Joseph's Auditorium. All are welcome Dr. Blackstone Support Group in Tucson is the 1st Saturday of the month to be held at Sheraton on Grant Road from 10:00-11:30. This is for SBC patients only.
St. Joseph's is the last Saturday of the month at St. Joseph's Auditorium from 10:00-12:00 open to everyone.
Tucson NOAG is Last Thursday of the Month at 7:00 at UMC Rm. 5408, open to all. ----
North West meeting7-8:30 PM each 3rd Monday of the month at the Northwest Medical Center Classrooms A-D 6200 N LaCholla Blvd. Classrooms are off the main lobby behind the cafeteria. New attendees in classroom D at 6:30 PM.
---- Eastside meeting7-8:30 PM on the first Tuesday of each month at Evangelical Covenant Church, 551 N. Camino Seco, between Broadway and Speedway, on the West side of the street. As always new attendees will be at 6:30.
Phoenix Area:
**Chandler WLS Support– 4th Tuesday at Chandler Regional Hospital, 6-7:30 pm OPEN to ALL! Peer Facilitated. Frye & Dobson. Enter from East Main entrance (by E.R.) and take elevator’s down to conference rooms 1 and 2 (This has been changed to quarterly with occasional get together’s….check support site for updates)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chandler_WLSSupport/join
Banner Gateway Support- **1st Tuesday 6-7:30 and **2nd Weds 6-7:30 and 3rd Weds 4:30 Professionally facilitated. OPEN to ALL (room down from the cafeteria) http://www.bannerhealth.com/_Bariatric/Bariatric+Center+Loca tions/Banner+Gateway_Bariatric_Center/Patient+Support/_Suppo rt+Groups.htm
**AZ Grads of WLS- 1st Tues, 5:30 at Bridges Centre, Phx St Luke's. OPEN to ALL who are 1 year post-op, Peer Facilitated: usually by Joyce or her hubby, Jim J http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/JRinAZ_group/discussion/ Come to GRADS then stay for the general support mtg @ 6:30!
Bridges St Luke's in Phoenix- 1st Tuesday at 6:30, OPEN to ALL, Psych facilitated, Bridges Education Room, 555 N. 18th E., Phx
Tempe St Luke’s – 2nd Saturday of every month, 1 p.m. ERny and DS group, 3rd Thursday of every month, 6 p.m.
Sun City - second Saturday of the month at 10;30 - noon. We meet in the Sun City room at the corner of 103rd & Coggins. If you have any questions of comments, please email Ann or call in the evenings at 623-249-4924.
Sun City Morning Group - Wednesday morning support group. It will be at 8:30-10:00A.M. The fourth Wednesday of each month. It will be held in the Menke Sun City Meeting Room in Sun City. All type of WLS are invited. Bring your support person if you would like. Hope to see you.
Debbie (dbuckeye)
Paradise Valley Hospital Support Groups are now being held at Paradise Valley Hopsital. They are open to all patients and are topic driven. Healthcare providers will help facilitate the support groups. All are welcome and they are FREE of Charge. The same speaker/topic will be for both sessions. The topic will be approx 30 minutes with open support discussion following
When: 2nd Tuesday of the Month 6pm - 7:30pm Modular Classroom 3rd Saturday 11am-1pm Cafeteria Classroom
Where: 3929 E. Bell Road. Phoenix Corner of Bell Road and the 51
**WLS West Valley Support Group:
WLS West Valley is a support group that meets twice a month on the first and third Saturdays of each month. It is a group designed for people who are pre-op or post-op for any kind of weight loss surgery.
The meetings are PEER FACILITATED, FREE, and will be held at Banner Estrella Hospital in the Conference Rooms located at 93rd Avenue and Thomas Road from 10:30 AM to Noon. The conference rooms are located just west of the main hospital entrance.
We look forward to meeting you!
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/WLSWestValley/
There are other support groups in these areas that are affiliated with Bariatric programs and are closed to guests unless you are attending with one of their patient’s specifically. They are great programs….
**And…there are other support groups spattered around the state outside of Tucson and Phoenix. For instance, check out: http://tricitywls.com/ This Prescott Valley group totally rocks! A fun day trip could include a trip to visit them. Get out of the heat, see their fun city, enjoy a dinner out and then join them for an evening of support! I’ve done that plan and LOVED it!
There's a support group for anyone that has had/is considering any form of weight loss surgery in Yuma. It meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm at the Yuma Regional Corporate Center on the corner of 32nd St & 4th Ave Extension.
So, can I save you a seat?......
Shoot me a note at: [email protected] OR [email protected]
C U soon!!!
Tomorrow (Sat): WLS West Valley- 10:30 - noon at Banner Estrella Conf room (see above for details)
Weds- Banner Gateway Psych - 4:30-6:00 , special guest speaker...SEX therapist addressing issues of every type regarding intimacy following Weight Loss Surgery . EVERYONE is invited and welcome to attend.
Tuesday the 27th - Chandler WLS support Group's quarterly meeting. 6 pm ....Focus on "Where are you now and Where do you want to be AND...options to make it happen!" ALL are invited but those who are over a year out may benefit most! Dinner at Mimi's will follow:)
Joyce Rny 2/11/03-> ERny 12/26/07-> Duodenal Switch 5/12/2010
www.dsfacts.com , www.dssurgery.com , & www.duodenalswitch.com
Topic: RE: Where can I ride my bicycle in the Phoenix general area??
http://www.mountainbikeaz.com/trail_reviews/phx_whitetank.php
watch out for snakes
http://www.mountainbikeaz.com/trail_reviews/phx_whitetank.php
watch out for snakes
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