Question:
What kind of follow-up care with your surgeons?

The newsgroup for my surgeon has gotten into a debate about follow up care and whether he does enough follow-up care with post-ops. Some feel he delegates everything to the PCP and doesn't spend enough time with us; others feel he does way better than most surgeons. I'm wondering what the norm is, particularly for those of you who had to go out of town or out of state for surgery.    — Anna A. (posted on September 26, 2000)

September 26, 2000
I had a proximal lap RNY in March, 2000. My surgeon was out-of-state, but only 3 hours away. He routinely sees his patients post-op at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and yearly thereafter. He has been readily available to me by phone or e-mail on the few occasions that I have needed to speak with him. He provided my PCP with a complete packet of information regarding the surgery, including diagrams, operative report, and necessary postoperative follow-up. A comprehensive metabolic panel, serum iron, serum B12 and CBC are required at 6 months and yearly, but may be done by the PCP and results FAX'd or brought to the office at the time of the routine post-op visits. I have been absolutely comfortable with this arrangement, but I also have had the experience and assurance that my surgeon is completely accessible to me for any problems which might be beyond the scope of practice for my PCP. Fortunately, that has never occurred, but that would be an important assurance for any out-of-state patient.
   — Diana T.