RNY Referrals

I've been through the whole process and am just waiting for the surgeon meeting to be scheduled. But, I have a friend who wants the surgery and is in dire need of it, BUT his newly acquired family physician doesn't "believe" in WLS. Does one have to have a physicians referral or can they just call a clinic and start the process that way?

Just looking for options for him.

Thanks bunches

Sherri

No does he have any other drs? An endocranologist? A nurse practitioner can! The walk in clinic can!

We had to fight the good battle to get my husbands referral in!

Juls

I am pretty sure you need a family physician to refer you to the registry, but if his GP doesn't "beleive" in it, I am sure

he could find a doctor that would help him. Or maybe he could make a list of the reasons he needs this and 

try to convince his doctor.  I know my doctor was not too willing at first when I mentioned it to her, but I persisited

and one day ended up with the nurse practioner as my doctor was on holidays, she highly agreed with me

and recommended it to my doctor and that got the ball rolling in the right direction for me.

Wishing you and your friend all the best, I know it can be exhausting at times, but well worth the battle

in the end.  There is so many wonderful people here always willing to help too

THANKS!! I will let him know. He's just so frustrated and it's truly sad to watch him all but give up. Thanks again for your advice!

 

Doesn't have to be a family physician.  My gynecologist referred me because I also had a family physician who didn't "believe in" weight loss surgery.  My family physician finally gave in and said he'd refer me after I badgered him for a few visits, but I could tell it would take forever (he didn't know the process), so I just got my gyn to do it.

Does your friend have sleep apnea?  The specialist there might refer him, as might a cardiologist or some other specialist he has to see for other complications that could be attributed to his obesity.

My family doc runs the walk in clinic in guelph at Stephenson ant speedvale in the fresh co plaza... He will refer anyone...he says its not his job to judge or refuse anyone...he will make the referral and then the patient will need to follow up pre and post op with their family doc 

Your friend can just tell his doctor that he is interested in learning more about WLS and would like a referral to the bariatric registry so he can find out more and make an informed decision.  His doctor doesn't have to believe in it to refer him.

My family physician was worried about all the follow up she would have to do.  I had to educate her and tell her that I'd be followed by the clinic and she wouldn't have to worry about anything else.  That might be a reason your doctor is unwilling to refer. 

 

Katie, that is one of the saddest comments I have read here for a long time!  For a physician to NOT want to follow up, to have a CHORE added to their unholy burden gals me like you wouldn't believe!  It is obviously true that some doctors don't want extra burdens of any sorts but to not refer someone to a specialist because of the work required when the patient gets back is a REALLY good reason to find another doctor, imo!  

That's for sure.  And it's worse in a lot of cases now.  I'm trying to find the articles I read a few years ago about doctors who were starting to require that their patients fill out "application forms" to become their patients, and how a number of them were refusing patients who had a lot of health issues that might require more attention or complex care.  The result being that a number of patients with complex care issues for which they desperately needed regular physician care were having a hard time getting family doctors.

Here's one article:

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=b27fde eb-bc46-4580-a582-ac2d94e35d82

Here's another:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/should-doctors-be-able-t o-cherry-pick-patients/article1067374/

And another about a woman in St. Catharines who was refused due to chronic conditions, where apparently most of the doctors screen new patients and cherry-pick only the healthiest people to take on as new patients:

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/technology/story.html?id= 309fc048-8b96-4c21-8812-da393bdfb663

And here's a doctor from Massachusetts who won't see patients who are 200 lbs and over.  (Gee, I wonder if that also applies to men?)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2194804/Doctor-refus ing-treat-200lb-woman-grounds-staff-injured-obese-patients.h tml