Camp Pendleton Military hospital surgeries???

Has anyone here either had surgery at the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton OR know of anyone who has?  Any info at all concerning this hospital would be GREATLY appreciated.  I cannot seem to find anything relating to this hospital even performing gastric bypass and since I will be moving to that area soon, I am trying to decide if I should try to get surgery now or wait until I get there.  (If I use the medical facility it will be free, but I don't want to have it done if they are not experienced or if they have a bad record!!)  Any comments/help would be appreciated!

I have not been to Pendelton, since I was a kid, so I could not tell to much about the facilities. I will tell that I spent 20 years in the Army Medical Corp, and although Military Doc's are some of the best surgeons in the world. I just don't see them doing WLS. Especially in war time. There is just no way any military hospital could have a good WLS program in place. I would seek a civilian hospital, even if you have to pay for it.

Doc

Thank you so much for your information.  Since my original post, I pretty much came to the same conclusion - with so much on the line (my life/health), I should not be looking for the cheapest way to go!  I would rather take on some out of pocket expenses and have an excellent surgical experience than just take what was free and possibly kick myself everyday for not finding the best.  Thanks again . . . you speak common sense, and I like that!

Tricare will usually refer you to a center out in town.  If you go with the center they refer you to, your costs will most likely be covered at 100%.  If you choose your own surgeon, you can transfer the authorization to them, but you may end up paying out of pocket.

I had my surgery at UCI, but others in my area have had it locally or been referred as far as San Diego. (We live in Ventura, California).

Once approved I found the Tricare system very painless.  Everything was covered, nothing out of pocket and my surgeon was fantastic.