"Let's start with first impressions... my contact with Davis (surg coordinator) was exceptional. She was the first person I spoke with at the NEW PROGRAM... explained serveral options the center offers and then talked my insurance options etc. I then RSVP for the doctor's informational seminar. Dr. Justin Bravermann was the speaker. I was immediately drawn in by his down to earth personality, humor and knowledge overall. I appreciated his honesty about their offerings. I went in sold on Lap Band because I feared all other WLS options. After the seminar... I left sold on Gastric Bypass. I scheduled my preop consult with Bravermann for 2 weeks later. In that time, I learned about the VSG and decided this was the most practical procedure for me. Upon my arrival to the preop consult... I wasn't impressed with the front office personnel at all. I wasn't greeted (the way I felt I should have been)... I was asked to sign in and pay my visit fee and fill out some paperwork. I let that slide... it was early perhaps the front office had a bad morning... (shrug). Well because I decided to go the VSG route...my surgery had to be preformed by Dr. Quebbermann - the Surgical Director of the center. I was pissed cause I really felt a connection with Bravermann for some reason. I prepared myself to be immediately UMIMPRESSED with Dr. Q...(i judged a book by it's cover....) When he came in to the room... he was way cool and laid back and was somewhat "GQ". He looked me in my eye and spoke every so casually with me about this and that. I asked him what would be the best for me... he said VSG would be great for me. That did it... validation for what I wanted and he didn't try to push something eles on me that I didn't want. He was honest about everything...(hopefully... but this includes "negative" as well...so I have to belive he was honest). Most importantly.. he passed the "MOTHER" test. She loved him and felt I would be in safe hands. (she's a nurse and several of his patients that see the doctor she works for...so added validation). Once done with his visit - I was suppose to meet the NUT...but she was out that day. So instead of them scheduling me to come back to visist they said she would do my consult over the phone. (wierd... but whatever). She calls and my consult lasted all of 93 seconds. I was pissed at that cause I felt riped off...but my insurance covered that "visit" 100% so I didn't let it bother me to much. On to the waiting game with the insurance company. I was denied twice for VSG due to investigational. So my last resort was to request a Independant Medical Review my the State of CA (CDI). Of course they require your surgeon to sign off with his agreeance that this is the best solution. I didn't think Dr. Q would sign my paperwork because so much time had passed (plus someone on OH told me he did not sign their appeal paperwork too)... but to my utter surprise he did and included mega info on why VSG would be better than RNY. For that I feel my decision to have my surgery done with the NEW PROGRAM... thus far has been the best decision. I am still waiting for a decision on my appeal. Otherwise I'll have RYN and will update this with post op details etc.
Written on May 23, 2009. "
