Know a good WLS friendly PCP? Tri-City area?

Hello, I am seriously thinking about changing my PCP. I have been seeing this Dr for a number of years, but I am seriously PO'd. He knows that I am working toward having WLS and the kinds of things that need to be charted for insurance approval. I have now ended what should have been my 12-month waiting period for BCBS PPO approval. So I had all my records faxed to Hurley. Yesterday I got a call that say the only thing he documented was a few diet conversations in 2006. I was told by Hurley that he needs to have notes in progress and that a letter will not work. I do have an appointment on Monday with my PCP but I don't know what will come of that. If I am going to have another 12-month wait I'd like to know the Dr I see will document correctly and be on my side in making this happen. Jan

insist that he reconstruct the notes....you should have weights in the chart that they took with each of your visits. You construct a chronoligy of your visits for the last 12 mos--what you discussed each time etc and give them to him/her to us to work up the documentation. If he/she refuses.....i am sure there are many here in your area who will know someone in the area...but i would first push before giving up on your 12 mo history........good luck, hug rae

Rae~ Thanks for the advice. I will have a list of things together for him when I go Monday afternoon. The hard part for me will be to keep calm and in control. I have just been sticking it out with him so I could gain insurance approval. He is such an arrogant, condescending @$$ that I had already planned to find another PCP. Of course, I will not give him that information until everything is taken care and records have been transferred. Jan

Dr. Kishan Kella out of Saginaw is a great doctor....Check with them....He is my doctor of 16 years and he is very understanding.

Thanks, I am going to the website to see if they take my insurance. Keep all fingers crossed. Jan

Dr. Manasian is the doc for Hurley's bariatric program and he does private patients also, alot of people see him and love him. Also I see Dr. Soon Choi in Fenton. She is not an expert in bariatrics, but has been very supportive of my efforts and documents really well, especially, if I tell her what the insurance company needs to see. Wendy

I have Dr. Ostahowski, in Midland. I have been with him for about 12 years - absolutely love him! They now accept BCBS, so that is a bonus. I live about 40 minutes away from the doctors office and still have not been comfortable switching to a doctor that is closer to home. Even when they did not accept my former insurance and my current (husbands BCBS) and I had to pay the higher 'out of network' costs...I still went to him. Michelle

Michelle, Thanks, I am seriously going looking. I am not sure the person I see now is going to be very helpful. When I started the process he immediately tried to talk me out of it. When I wouldn't back down he was 'willing' to help. I think it was just to shut me up. I guess I should have looked at my charts every time I went. It will happen for me; even if it takes a while. Jan

I believe they are accepting patients right now. When my husband and I went to my appointment with Dr. O to talk about WLS, he gave me the pros and cons. He also told me that this was my decision, that he was not going to push me into it. But if I made the decision to pursue WLS then he was behind me 110 percent. My husband and I were in the room with him for about 30-40 minutes. I never feel 'rushed' with Dr. O. He has always taken the time for me, along with the rest of my family. When we brought my son home (adopted from Russia) and had his first appointment, Dr. O asked how I was doing and if I was adjusting. During my son's appointment he seemed concerned in my health, in addition to ous sons, given the fact that I was antidepressants. Not many doctors will do that. I was in the office in January to have a blood pressure check and ran into him (I didn't have an appointment, was just a walk in thing). He was floored. His jaw dropped and he was excited to see the 'new me' and was glad I made the decision to have the surgery.

I remember when you were going through the adoption process. How is your little one doing? I bet he's already growing like a weed. It's amazing how long it take to get them home and how soon you become attached. Are they not the most amazing little people? Your doctor is right...you do look great... and I bet with the weight loss you can keep up with your son too. Keep me in your thoughts. Tomorrow should be interesting... Jan