Newbie - Where to Have Surgery?

Hi All!  I've posted once before and am in the beginning stages of the vertical sleeve gastrectomy!

I have two surgeons in mind, breakdowns below.  I am not sure which you guys think would be better, given you have been through the process;

Option 1:  Dr. Pohl in Rhode Island, about 15 minutes from my house, part of a Center of Excellence.  First intro seminar is April 9th.  Has wonderful reviews, and was the first person my general practitioner mentioned without me saying anything.  I just do not know anyone personally that has used him.

Option 2:  Dr that my Mom's friend used, that is located closer to where I grew up (about an hour away).  Does not say it is a Center for Excellence, but has all sorts of great reviews and has been featured in the Boston Globe, etc.  Closer to Boston.  People she knows (two) have had great luck with this location.  First informational session is Thursday.

I am concerned with doing the surgeon that is farther away, in case there are any post-op complications, and also fitting in all the pre-op appointments while working full time with a two year old.

I know you guys are the pros :)  What do you think?

I am a big advocate for staying local if at all possible. In any sort of "worst case scenario," your surgeon will be easily accessible. Are you doing this through insurance? Most insurance companies require that you use a CoE in order to be approved, so that might be something to check into. Your decision might just be made for you :)

Best of luck!

Do a google search on "healthgrades" and look up both doctors.  Once you find that site, just click around to look at all the information on each doctor.  You can also drill through and do similar research on each of the hospitals involved.

That should get you enough information to feel comfortable with the choice.  If all things appear equal, I'd take the COE nearer your house.

Are both surgeons going to be at the information sessions?  I went to my first information session through a major university teaching hospital and listened to the surgeon speak.  (Also a Center of Excellence).  She is only one of 6 there, but I hadn't heard of any of them.  She totally turned me off.  She was extremely negative and gave the impression she was not the least bit flexible and wanted to talk as many people out of it as she could.  I have some other medical issues, too, and when I spoke to her afterwards, she said she didn't even know if she would accept me because of the medication I'm on.  I was still going to turn in my paperwork, but before I did, my gastroenterologist recommended I check out a more local doctor who works on his own and is a general surgeon first, entering into bariatric surgery 6 yrs ago.  She said he had an excellent reputation.  Their info session was one-to-one and after learning about all the options there (and they included their own individual statistics), I met with the surgeon.  He had no problem whatsoever doing surgery on me and had a very good bedside manner.  I felt very confident with him.  His was not a Center of Excellence as it is still too new.  I didn't know anyone personally who had gone with him, either, but he was very knowledgeable and made me feel very comfortable.  I knew I wanted to have him do the surgery and I don't regret my decision for a minute.  One of my other doctors is going to have the sleeve done later in the year, and although she has worked in the past with the major teaching hospital, she is going to my surgeon.  I think that speaks volumes.  I'd suggest you go to both and see who you feel most comfortable with.  All other things being equal, go to the closest one.

#1

plus, my insurance required it to be at a Center of Excellence.

Thanks everybody!  I was leaning towards #1 too, because it does seem better to be local.  Part of what is frustrating is that his info session is 15 days away and I am ready to start now!  I know it will be a fairly long process to actually get to the surgery date, but I have the six months of weight loss that can be proven, so I am hoping I can just work through the necessary appointments.

Anyone any guidance as to if I am thinking of this timeline correctly?  I already called my insurance company and they do cover it 100%.  I am above a 40 BMI.

Are you sure your insurance accepts the documentation you have of the 6month thing?  I thought weigh****chers was enough...it wasn't b/c I didn't go to my doctor 1x a month for a weigh in.  I saw my PCP got documented with him that I was going to do WW to do the 6 month thing and when I got into the bariatric center they said that wouldn't work b/c insurance wants monthly doctor/nutritionist visits with the WW.  I had to do 6 more months of nutrition counseling with the NUT to be sure everything was documented correctly.

Do you have a psych requirement?

Once I had the 6m thing done, I was submitted and approved in a week, and could have had surgery within the month.  I delayed b/c of a planned vacation - but for me from completion of requirements to surgery day was 2 months including the delay for my vacation.

Good Luck!

Hmmm... Interesting.  I have Blue Cross Blue Shield.  When I called she just said six months of weight loss.  I have that with Weigh****chers, I also saw my doctor several times last year,  he may say I went to him.  

I'm not sure!

You are so recent!  How are you feeling?

Is it 6 months of a medically supervised weight loss or 6 months of weight loss like in weigh****chers some insurance companies want both, even if it's covered they usually won't pay right away unless you meet some other criteria first, you might need a medical clearance letter as well as a letter of recommendation from your pcp, check with your ins for specifics, good luck to you in your journey!