Southern California Kaiser Patients

[thin2be 0]

Good Morning everyone...I need to ask some questions bc I am having trouble with the approval process....can everyone that has kaiser southern ca answer this please?

1. When did options class end and location?

2. Were u able to do your labs before the option class ended?

3. Were you able to chose the location you wanted you surgery done at?

I am trying to see just how different the locations are from ours...mine was done at Corona and ended Sept 28th we had to wait til classes were over and to meet with a specialist then we were sent to do our labs...I am not able to pick were I go...kaiser said I would either go to Pacific bariatric or Crown.

Thanks everyone!!

[Ibejjo 47]

Welcome to the forum.

1. Classes ended last Tuesday October 26th in Bakersfield

2. Yes, we had to have all of our labs done before the classes ended. We had a schedule of when labs and tests needed to be completed.

3. We could choose any location but they told us since San Joaquin Hospital will be getting approved to take Kasier patients in the next few weeks. We would not get reimbursement for travel or lodging if we decided to pick another location. I picked Bakersfield first since its where I live but selected Pacific bariatric as my back up location.

Since I just finish my classes last week, I am sure that I will not have my surgery until February or March. I am hoping sooner but I as long as I get it then I will be happy.

Hopefully this info is helpful.

Jen

[lunarose 97]

Hi,

I have a friend who did classes in Panorama City they had several classes going at the same time continuously. They did her labs towards the end of classes and they had several different facilities to choose from (some have longer waiting lists then others). Hope this helps.

[Spiritus 0]

Good Morning everyone...I need to ask some questions bc I am having trouble with the approval process....can everyone that has kaiser southern ca answer this please?

1. When did options class end and location?

2. Were u able to do your labs before the option class ended?

3. Were you able to chose the location you wanted you surgery done at?

I am trying to see just how different the locations are from ours...mine was done at Corona and ended Sept 28th we had to wait til classes were over and to meet with a specialist then we were sent to do our labs...I am not able to pick were I go...kaiser said I would either go to Pacific bariatric or Crown.

Thanks everyone!!

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1. My track ends tomorrow, November 2, 2010 Carson location : Kaiser Harbor City

2. Labs were ordered on week 4 and all tests were expected to have been taken by week 8 by everyone.

3. We are not allowed to go outisde Kaiser South Bay - Pacific Bariatrics is backed up with Kaiser patients and South Bay is not referring out anymore because of the recent addition of a bariatric surgeon.

[thin2be 0]

Thanks everyone here is the situation my location has put us in

1. we were not allowed to do labs until options class finished

2. We filled out a refferal for Pacific bariatric and Crown and KAISER is picking on which one of these locations they send us to.

3. Crown only does the bypass....so if we get sent there we have go to a crown seminar then see the dr at Crown...if they agree we are a better fit for the vertical sleeve then they will send the refferal back to Kaiser to send us to Pacific....

4. So as you see not only do we not get labs done before or get to pick were we go they have created extra steps for us to go to Pacific which will delay us about a month or more going to Crown!!

To say I am upset at this is an understatement!!

[tiffnie 3]

Hello! I did my Options at Kaiser Sunset (LA). I ended my Options class last May and was set for surgery last Dec, but I had to postpone my surgery until this Dec.. I actually had to do labs three times, once at the 3 or 4 month point, again after class was over last May, and then again when I was approved the second time around. They gave me the option of going to PB in San Diego and getting on a 6-8 week waiting list, or going to Kaiser in South Bay (or Bellflower, not sure which) and getting on a 6 month waiting list. The obvious choice was PB. The only thing is that with PB I was required to see their own therapist, dr and surgeon for approval, even after I completed those appts at Kaiser.

Good luck!!

[MaceoMack 0]

Greetings ...

I completed my Options classes on September 21, 2010, at the Panorama City Kaiser Medical Center.

Labs specific to the surgery were scheduled after completion of the course following a meeting with the Director of the program, which was required by all participants.

I did have labs during the course for other medical matters, and I'm told those results were forwarded to the Bariatric Program doctor.

We were given the choice on where the procedure was to be performed and the option of having the procedure completed at a Kaiser Hospital or a hospital contracted by Kaiser to perform the procedures.

I was scheduled for an appointment on Nov. 9th with the surgeon who will be performing the procedure at the WLA Kaiser, which was my choice.

[thin2be 0]

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So if u cant go to south bay or Pacific where are they sending you guys?

1. My track ends tomorrow, November 2, 2010 Carson location : Kaiser Harbor City

2. Labs were ordered on week 4 and all tests were expected to have been taken by week 8 by everyone.

3. We are not allowed to go outisde Kaiser South Bay - Pacific Bariatrics is backed up with Kaiser patients and South Bay is not referring out anymore because of the recent addition of a bariatric surgeon.

[Queengamez 19]

hello all!!

I'm new to this board and i have my first class on the 16th!! in kaiser baldwin park!! i'm hoping they will answer all my question and help me choice the right surgery for me!!

what maybe you all choose the sleeve over they other two???

how long does it take to actually get a surgery date??

[creativeone 0]

Good evening.....

I finished my Options classes on September 9th. Then I had to see the preventive medicine doctor who referred me for labs, ultrasound and chest x-ray. They only thing I was able to do prior to finishing the classes was the physical. My primary requested some labs but I still needed some others. When that was all complete, it took four weeks to get the referral approval from Kaiser. I wasn't given the option as to where I wanted to have my surgery. They are sending me to Pacific Bariatric. I had to attend their seminar which I did on November 2nd. I am now waiting to get my appointments with their doctors (surgeon, psychologist, and internist). At their seminar they stressed the fact that we have to be approved by their doctors even though we were approved by Kaiser. I am hoping to hear from them soon.

If you are going to Pacific, they have a seminar in Riverside on November 10th.

Good Morning everyone...I need to ask some questions bc I am having trouble with the approval process....can everyone that has kaiser southern ca answer this please?

1. When did options class end and location?

2. Were u able to do your labs before the option class ended?

3. Were you able to chose the location you wanted you surgery done at?

I am trying to see just how different the locations are from ours...mine was done at Corona and ended Sept 28th we had to wait til classes were over and to meet with a specialist then we were sent to do our labs...I am not able to pick were I go...kaiser said I would either go to Pacific bariatric or Crown.

Thanks everyone!!

[tiffnie 3]

hello all!!

I'm new to this board and i have my first class on the 16th!! in kaiser baldwin park!! i'm hoping they will answer all my question and help me choice the right surgery for me!!

what maybe you all choose the sleeve over they other two???

how long does it take to actually get a surgery date??

Hello! My fiancee just finished up his Options classes at Kaiser BP, and I must say you guys are so lucky to have Options there! I did Options at Sunset and it was 6 months of classes once a week; at BP I think its something like 3 months every other week

The program is very insightful and helpful, just go with it 100% because they really are giving you the tools that you will need to be successful at weight loss. And FYI the surgeons are serious about you losing the weight before surgery.

I didnt so much choose the sleeve as it was chosen for me. I was told by the surgeon that RNY is preferable for patients with no history of abdominal surgery and sleeve is preferable for patients with no history of GERD or acid reflux. I had a c-section 3 years ago so sleeve it is! But I do prefer the sleeve anyway, it just doesn't seem as invasive to me. As for lap band, my impression was that Kaiser really discourages it.

The surgery date depends on how soon you meet the goal weight, where you choose to go, and when you finish the program. I would have had the surgery last July, but I missed one Options class so I had to wait 2 months to make it up, by that time the nearest surgery date was Dec 2009. Then I had to reschedule that because I was a full time nursing student and my school would not give me the time off needed. So finally I am scheduled for Dec 27 2010. Long story short, don't miss class, do what they need you to do, make your appointments and do your labs asap. You would probably be looking at anywhere from 2-6 months of waiting, but it flies by.

GOOD LUCK!!

[Estrellita 6]

Hello. I completed the Options program last March and had surgery in July. I completed Options at Sunset Kaiser, but had surgery done at South Bay. We were given the option of chosing the hospital for our surgery, since Sunset doesn't do bariatric surgery. I had to complete labs three times through out the process. Once during the course of Options, once after, and the last time a week before surgery. I don't understand why, but all Kaiser facilities are different. My best friend and I did Options together, but at different locations, and our material, process, and options for surgery were different. I ended liking her program best, and switched to her location- South Bay. Good luck, God bless you!

[tiffnie 3]

Hello. I completed the Options program last March and had surgery in July. I completed Options at Sunset Kaiser, but had surgery done at South Bay. We were given the option of chosing the hospital for our surgery, since Sunset doesn't do bariatric surgery. I had to complete labs three times through out the process. Once during the course of Options, once after, and the last time a week before surgery. I don't understand why, but all Kaiser facilities are different. My best friend and I did Options together, but at different locations, and our material, process, and options for surgery were different. I ended liking her program best, and switched to her location- South Bay. Good luck, God bless you!

Hi Estrellita!

I did Options at Sunset too, we might have been in the same class...

I was Track 37, Monday nights.

Nice to see that you are doing well

[Queengamez 19]

Hello! My fiancee just finished up his Options classes at Kaiser BP, and I must say you guys are so lucky to have Options there! I did Options at Sunset and it was 6 months of classes once a week; at BP I think its something like 3 months every other week

The program is very insightful and helpful, just go with it 100% because they really are giving you the tools that you will need to be successful at weight loss. And FYI the surgeons are serious about you losing the weight before surgery.

I didnt so much choose the sleeve as it was chosen for me. I was told by the surgeon that RNY is preferable for patients with no history of abdominal surgery and sleeve is preferable for patients with no history of GERD or acid reflux. I had a c-section 3 years ago so sleeve it is! But I do prefer the sleeve anyway, it just doesn't seem as invasive to me. As for lap band, my impression was that Kaiser really discourages it.

The surgery date depends on how soon you meet the goal weight, where you choose to go, and when you finish the program. I would have had the surgery last July, but I missed one Options class so I had to wait 2 months to make it up, by that time the nearest surgery date was Dec 2009. Then I had to reschedule that because I was a full time nursing student and my school would not give me the time off needed. So finally I am scheduled for Dec 27 2010. Long story short, don't miss class, do what they need you to do, make your appointments and do your labs asap. You would probably be looking at anywhere from 2-6 months of waiting, but it flies by.

GOOD LUCK!!

wow i was really wishful thinking i could get it done by January...you know a new year start!! but yes my Dr. at the bp kaiser wants me to do the sleeve or the bypass not the band but i'm kinda scared!! i'm now leaning to the sleeve..i'm hoping the class helps me out with all my questions..i'm excited! i'm so looking forward in being a healthy and skinny mom and being able to play with my son!

did your husband have to do a phys?

thanks so much for replying and i hope your husband is doing good!

[ohhuera 5]

Hello

Im new here. I am the very beginning of this process. I wanted to let people know that I just signed up for my first options class next week at Kaiser Sunset. I was told that the classes have been shortened. They said the classes are now 3 months, once a week. Dont know if this is old news but, thought I would post it.

Thanks