Update on "Lying Surgeons Office" Post

Hi Everyone,   First, a HUGE thank you to all *****sponded..   I knew I could count on your opinions. Here is the update: On my way to work yesterday, I called the surgeons office and spoke to the woman who is handling the insurance.. I said "I left you a message on Friday, the day you were supposed to call me back but didnt..." and she said "Yes, I got your message today. I havent called you back because I dont have any answers yet. I am not allowed to submit anything to your insurance company without the approval of the whole team. not only that, but you still have to meet with our other nurse practitioner as well as have a psyche evaluation." I said, "Ok, so then lets get the appointment made for the psyche eval and for the nurse practitioner... transfer me to the front desk so I can make that appointment..."    So they transfer me to the front desk and I say to the girl "I have an appointment scheduled for September 13th to meet with the nurse practitioner.. I would like to move it up.. way up." and she said "Is that so you can meet your insurance requirements?" and I said "Yes, it is" and she said "We require you to wait a month between appointments, and you just had an appointment last week... you have to wait a month between seeing the first nurse practicioner and the second nurse practicioner" and I said "But when I saw the first nurse practicioner last week, that was the SECOND time I have seen him...so by Sept 13th, it will be TWO months between when I 1st saw him and then see the second nurse practicioner..." and she said "You have to wait a month between appointments." Let me tell you what, I hung up that phone and IMMEDIATELY called the other Bariatric surgery practice I have been thinking about, explained the situation to them, and they booked me an appointment THIS THURSDAY at 9 am. I am about 99.9% sure I am going to switch practices. I understand they may have their protocol and a certain way they do things, and thats fine.. I could see if I didnt WANT to come to scheduled appointments, but thats NOT it.. my issue is why do I have to have the appointments spaced a MONTH apart??? If I need 10 appointments, I see no reason why I cant accomplish them all in 10 weeks, or even 2 appointments a week for 5 weeks.... whatever.. I think its insane to make me wait a whole month in between appointments just because they FEEL LIKE IT. Folks, you should have heard the message I left on their machine last Friday.. it wasnt rude or nasty by any means.. it was very nice, but I explained to them that I was worried about the length of the process and I was feeling anxious about the whole insurance issue and I would really appreciate a call back... Mind you, if I came into work on Monday morning at 9am and heard that message, I would have called that person at 9:01 am.. I would have explained that I got the message, I understand their concern, etc, and I will call them back as soon as I can...   I used to work for an insurance company a few years ago and would get messages like that all the time, and by the end of the day, even if I didnt have an answer for the person, I would CALL THEM BACK and let them know that although I didnt have an answer, I wanted to touch base with them to let them know I was working on it and hand t forgotten about  them.... BECAUSE THATS THE PROFESSIONAL WAY TO DO THINGS. Sure, the practice may be busy and probably has lots of other patients, but know what? THATS NOT MY PROBLEM. Bottom line, I feel like I am being given the run around.. I feel that they are being evasive.. they should have told me up front "Our protocol is to not submit for 6 months.. we require appts to be a month apart..."   even if they dont want to tell people that at first, ok..  but down the road, if someone ASKS, be up front and lay it out.. dont lie, dont make excuses... tell it like it is... and I dont feel like they are telling me anything. I also feel like they are doing this to simply drag the whole process out and get me as many un-neccesary appointments as possible to milk my insurance company. I mean, come on.. I have already met with one of the nurse practicioners TWICE.. each time he comes in the room and says "Hows it going? hows your eating? and we chit chat, and thats it! NOTHING gets accomplished.. and whenever I ask a specific question about anything, the answer is always "HHmm.. I dont know.. you will need to ask the surgeon..." So tell me, what the heck are these visits FOR?? they accomplish NOTHING! Not only that, but heres a good one...   I have asked now THREE TIMES.. "Does this office use the new AP Adjustable Platform Band?" and three times the answer has been  "Hmm... I dont know...you will have to ask the surgeon that..."   HUH?? well, what YEAR do I get to meet with the surgeon?? how many months down the road is that? do I have to have an appointment with the night janitor and the landscaping crew before that ever happens???? I was very impressed with this place in the beginning... the SEEMED very polished and professional at first...  I guess you cant always judge a book by its cover. Im out of there. Wish me luck for my next appointment this Thursday with the other practice across town... If all goes well, I will be calling the other place and telling them to gather my medical records for me to pick them up ASAP. Thanks again for listening!

Good for you changing surgeons! I don't know why they insist on being so impossible but it makes no sense. Heck it doesn't even make sense that you have to meet two NP's and why did you even have to meet the first one once? I can hear the psych eval, the ONE NP, and the nutrition consult, but to do more than one of each is just milking you for your money.

I wouldn't have put up with as much as you have!  You must be a very patient person!  Congrats on finding a different doc and good luck on Thursday.  I'm sorry you had to go through all of this, but think how much you'll appreciate the next doctor's office that you go to!!   And imagine how great it is going to feel to call them and tell them that you're changing doctors!!

If this is the service you are getting BEFORE surgery.. can you imagine what your aftercare is like? Good Luck with this new one!

WELL,  THAT SURGEON SOUNDS LIKE "THE GREAT AND POWERFUL OZ" YOU DON'T GET TO SEE HIM.    I THINK YOU ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY MOVING ON.  IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS SURGEON LIKES EVERYONE DOING HIS WORK FOR HIM, AND HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE BOTHERED.   AFTER CARE IS SO IMPORTANT, AND YOU ARE NOT GETTING BEFORE CARE, SO I DOUBT THAT YOU WILL GET GOOD AFTERCARE.   GOOD FOR YOU,  MOVE ON.!!! GOOD LUCK BRIDGET K.

LOL! Great and powerful Oz! That's a good one Bridge!

GLAD YOU ENJOYED IT JUDY,     HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL,  AND MAYBE WE WILL SEE YOU THURSDAY AT SUPPORT!! CYA BRIDGE

I am with the other posts.... if they are treating you this way before surgery how are they going to treat you afterwards... and What IFyou have to go in before a month and have an unfil GOD forbid would they tell you then oh you have to wait a month between appt.... while you are throwing up being to tight.. You have to think of all areas and if you were starting to feel uncomfortable you did the right thing changing... Good luck with the new office that is only 2 days away..... Laura

Good for you! You definately need to change surgeons. Hopefully things will go smoother for you with the new surgeon. Huge hugs! ~Sarah

First person I met in all 3 top-notch practices I consulted with in my search was the SURGEON. I wouldn't bother with any practice where that was not the case. I don't care about the NPs or psychs or whoevers if I don't feel comfortable with the person holding the knife. You just cannot select a surgeon without MEETING and CONSULTING with the surgeon first. Nancy