thornhailweb

Hi All, I am new to this this community. I am happy to find a place where I can receive the support and knowledge I need. Here is my situation: In January of this year, my Kaiser PCP and I discussed bariatric surgery. He agreed to send the referral and to get the ball rolling. A few weeks later, I went to an information meeting and completed the psych exam a few weeks later. Since February of this year, I have heard nothing from the Kaiser Fremont, CA Bariatric center on my status regarding my referral. My doctor said that I qualified, and the psych dr. told me that my evaluation looked good. In the summer, I e-mailed both doctors. The psych dr. told me to talk to my PCP. The PCP told me that the program has over a year long list. However, I feel like this is too long to wait to hear about the status of my acceptance into the program. I knew that this would be a lengthy process...but jeez...just to get my orientation appointment or get the current status of my application. This process has left me discouraged and frustrated. If I am not being accepted, I would like to know so that I can plan my appeal or jump through more hoops or whatever. No one at Kaiser will give me a straight answer. I have asked to speak to the bariatric department directly to get more information, but the doctors tell me that will get me nowhere closer to moving the process faster. I could see reacting this way if I expected everything to be done in a month, but I have waited over eight months to even hear from Fremont. Has anyone else had this problem. Any suggestions? All help or any advice would be greatly appreciated!:thumbup:

I have been waiting and waiting...and waiting to hear from Kaiser Bariatrics in Fremont. It has been 10 months! I was told to refer to my PCP. He told me over these months that Kaiser Fremont has a wait list of over a year. Stupid me, trusting my doctor, decided to believe him and try to be cooperative and patient. I decided to finally bypass his "authority" and research everything myself. Finally, after much maneuvering through the automated labrynth that is the Fremont Kaiser Bariatric Department, was able to leave a message for the bariatric department. They left a message for me on my cell phone notifying me that they have NOT even received my request or file at all!:tongue2: It has been over 10 months and they tell me this now. I want to know who dropped the ball on this one! From what I have been able to find out, all evidence points to my PCP. I'm so mad I could spit! Now, I have been told to speak to my PCP, but I can't now, because he's gone until the middle of this month! I have been cordial and patient, but I'm fed up with Kaiser's games. The only thing I can do now, is wait, I guess. However, I do think I am justified to file a complaint. I really dislike having to defer my issues to the patronizing customer service. I know they are there just to cover their a!#@!. I feel like David going against Goliath. I may have to play nice in order to get what I need. It would help if whomever was responsible to apologize to me and speed up the orientation process, being it was Kaiser's mistake and all. I followed all their directions, went to every appointment, and did everything else they wanted me to do, all with a smile and a positive attitude. This really sucks! :angry_smile:I feel very depressed and alone. Is there anything else I can do. Any moral encouragement or suggestions will be appreciated!

I have been waiting and waiting...and waiting to hear from Kaiser Bariatrics in Fremont. It has been 10 months! I was told to refer to my PCP. He told me over these months that Kaiser Fremont has a wait list of over a year. Stupid me, trusting my doctor, decided to believe him and try to be cooperative and patient. I decided to finally bypass his "authority" and research everything myself. Finally, after much maneuvering through the automated labrynth that is the Fremont Kaiser Bariatric Department, was able to leave a message for the bariatric department. They left a message for me on my cell phone notifying me that they have NOT even received my request or file at all! It has been over 10 months and they tell me this now. I want to know who dropped the ball on this one! From what I have been able to find out, all evidence points to my PCP. I'm so mad I could spit! Now, I have been told to speak to my PCP, but I can't now, because he's gone until the middle of this month! I have been cordial and patient, but I'm fed up with Kaiser's games. The only thing I can do now, is wait, I guess. However, I do think I am justified to file a complaint. I really dislike having to defer my issues to the patronizing customer service. I know they are there just to cover their a!#@!. I feel like David going against Goliath. I may have to play nice in order to get what I need. It would help if whomever was responsible to apologize to me and speed up the orientation process, being it was Kaiser's mistake and all. I followed all their directions, went to every appointment, and did everything else they wanted me to do, all with a smile and a positive attitude. This really sucks! :angry_smile:I feel very depressed and alone. Is there anything else I can do. Any moral encouragement or suggestions will be appreciated!

Update. I finally got to ask for someone at the Fremont Kaiser Bariatric Department. They tell me that they have not received any information or referrals! I have been asking my PCP about this all along as well as the psych referral doctor. They both told me that the list was long, but now I learn that someone dropped the ball and didn't even get the referral in. I am furious!!:biggrin: I have followed up on this for the last ten months and I am barely told now that my file wasn't received. I cannot contact my PCP because he's gone until the 12th of October. I am so mad and, what's more, is that I probably won't be able to do anything about it. Talk about feeling alone and powerless. I feel like I'm David and Kaiser is the big bad Goliath. I'm very upset.

Hi All, I am new to this this community. I am happy to find a place where I can receive the support and knowledge I need. Here is my situation: In January of this year, my Kaiser PCP and I discussed bariatric surgery. He agreed to send the referral and to get the ball rolling. A few weeks later, I went to an information meeting and completed the psych exam a few weeks later. Since February of this year, I have heard nothing from the Kaiser Fremont, CA Bariatric center on my status regarding my referral. My doctor said that I qualified, and the psych dr. told me that my evaluation looked good. In the summer, I e-mailed both doctors. The psych dr. told me to talk to my PCP. The PCP told me that the program has over a year long list. However, I feel like this is too long to wait to hear about the status of my acceptance into the program. I knew that this would be a lengthy process...but jeez...just to get my orientation appointment or get the current status of my application. This process has left me discouraged and frustrated. If I am not being accepted, I would like to know so that I can plan my appeal or jump through more hoops or whatever. No one at Kaiser will give me a straight answer. I have asked to speak to the bariatric department directly to get more information, but the doctors tell me that will get me nowhere closer to moving the process faster. I could see reacting this way if I expected everything to be done in a month, but I have waited over eight months to even hear from Fremont. Has anyone else had this problem. Any suggestions? All help or any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hi. I am new here and have several questions about the Fremont Bariatric program. I was referred by my general doctor in late January of this year. Then, I went to an information meeting and did the psych evaluation at the Tracy Kaiser. According to my doctor and the psych dr., I was a good candidate for surgery. So, since February, I have waited to hear about the status of my acceptance into the program. From what I understand, I am supposed to receive an appointment for the orientation program in Fremont. I have heard....nothing. I have tried talking to my doctor, who just said that the program has a wait list of a year. I've e-mailed the psych dr. and she said to ask my primary physician. I don't want to be a pest, but I would think that by now, eight months later, surely I would have heard about my status by then. No one is willing to give me straight answers. If I am being denied, I want to know about it, so I can begin working on an appeal, or do what they think I need to do to get approval into the program. I am frustratrated and want answers. This place may be my only hope right now. How long did the process take any of you? Did it take this long? Any suggestions? I know that it is a lengthy process, but to get approval or denial eight months later...come on! Anybody else have stories to share? Thanks for any help that may come my way.