"Dr. Pomp has answered every one of my emails by the next day. His assistant Kim is wonderful, very friendly.
The office has a computer in the waiting room that you can use while you wait. His office staff leaves a little be desired. They are slow to return phone calls, and you pretty much have to contact Dr. Pomp by email because of it, but he is great about answering them! I have not tried emailing his staff.
I had an appointment with Dr. Pomp at 1:30pm, we were taken in by 2 to do the whole blood pressure/temp/weight thing, then interviewed by his nurse, had all the medical history questions, then she left the room saying that Dr. P was running a little late. An hour later of listening to my music on my phone and my husband telecommuting for his work on his computer he came in. He has a great sense of humor.
He does his shorten version of how the DS is done, how it works, what I will need to do for the rest of my life, that I will poop more, my farts will stink more, and he's sure I will be able to lose what I need to with no problem at all, but I should know that I will have to then deal with having saggy skin. He said, getting it fixed is usually not covered by insurance. He said I would need to see his Nut so I could go over the diet for the DS, and that as soon as his asst. could set it up, have the surgery. He asked me if I had any questions, I paused, my husband jumped in and said yes she wants to know when can she have the surgery! I had sent him my list of questions, the ones I copied from Stormy D, so he pulled them out and went over them with us.
Then he did an exam, I unzipped and open the top of my pants so he could checked my saggy fat belly, I lifted my shirt so he could look at my HUGE boobs (bra on), he lifted my pants legs to look at my huge kankles. He listen to my heart, with what he called, "his fisher price stethoscope". All of this very non intrusive/easy.
When he was done he said he would send in his research asst. to talk to me about some studies to see if I would like to participate in them. She did, and I did. I would suggest you do them. They need all the info to support the DS as a great WLS. Which I think will help us to get the insurance to pay for it for the next person trying to get approved! Think about it, we use the info from research studies to prove our points to the insurance companies! I will be the first DS who will be doing the body composition study, getting a full body MRI before the surgery. A full body picture telling me everything that is going on with my body! WOW, YAY I am excited about that!
Then I was taken to Kim his asst. (the insurance wiz) and she check all the things I would need to have done before surgery, which I had, all but a new doctor's referral/physical from my GP. AND my insurance approval. I need to see the Nut, which she was going to let me do when I got home, but I said could I get appointment with there's Now? She asked when I was leaving, Sat. so she set me up for one on Fri. afternoon. The Nut doesn't take insurance, so I would have to pay $250. The $250 covers all the help from the NUT there after. Ok.!?! so be it. I got the next appointment for that Friday.
Kim was very helpful, I wanted a date asap and asked for a tentative of since I didn't have insurance approval, and she gave me the first date which was four week out. Since then she has gotten my insurance to approve me. WOW! She is great!
Oh the other hand the Nut (LIZ) was a bit condescending. I just don't think she likes me very much. I am a little verbal and she seemed to want to do her spiel and get it over with. Hell maybe I just talk too much! Although my husband is the one who said she had this way of saying thing to you that were like sugar coated ha, ha I am sweet I don't find you annoying but you really are annoying way. It seems tests are what she needs the most so have your Vits/blood work info with you so you can get on her good side. She has since then be very helpful. You just have to be prepared and to the point with her. If I need to ask anything, all I need to do is email her and she gets back pretty quickly.
As a matter a fact all of Dr. Pomps office gets back to me pretty quickly except the front desk staff. Even Dr. Pomp. I think he gets all his emails sent to his cell, so he has it on him all the time and get your emails quickly and gets back to you ASAP. He has the best personality and is very easy to talk to. His nursing staff is quick to give all the help and support you need! I have had no problems with my surgery, and healed very nicely! I don't see me needing another surgery anytime soon and I believe it is because of Dr Pomp's skills!! That was my main concern, I didn't want to have to do more than one surgery if I could help it. So I picked a doctor I was sure could do the job with excellence and he did! I had no fears going into his OR the day of my surgery and haven't had any since! You couldn't pick a better doctor or staff, and the hospital is stellar! All new wing for the WLS patients.
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