What to expect at a seminar?

PghMomof3 · February 12, 2007

Hi, everyone--I've been lurking on this site for a couple of months and have been so grateful to see all of the great knowledge you're providing for everyone. I finally got the courage to call a physician's office regarding the lap-band and am now scheduled for a seminar on 2/16. I spoke with the financial lady and am going to be self-pay and was told that this surgery would cost approximately $10,600 which I was floored with because I thought it would be much much more! So, my question is--what do I expect there? Does the physician doing the procedure talk or are these just his nurses/practioner/nutritional specialist? What kind of things should I be asking or making sure are answered? My BMI is at 39 but I have a strong family history of heart disease, I already have high cholesterol and have been struggling with my weight for 13 years! I just want to make sure i have all the questions ready to go and I'm super super nervous! thanks for any infomation you can give me! I'll be here much more now! :nervous

Alexandra · February 12, 2007

The seminars I'm familiar with start out with a nurse describing the various bariatric surgeries performed by the practice (RNY, banding, whatever). This is a general description of the way the surgeries work and an overview of the aftercare and what makes a good candidte for which procedure.

Then there's a discussion of insurance issues, followed by testimonials from post-operative patients. At the end the surgeons get up and answer loads of questions from the audience. Your seminar may be different, but it's probably aimed at the same goal: to make sure that the patients have a good grounding in the information they need BEFORE they get into a room with the doctor, and waste his very expensive time asking about the basics.

If you already know which surgery you want to have, this seminar may feel like a waste of time to you. But it's a great time to get a better feel for the surgical practice, get to know the people and see how they treat patients. Meet some postops in person and ask them what their experience has been like. You'll think of loads of questions as you listen to the seminar, and in the end you'll be glad you went.

PghMomof3 · February 12, 2007

The seminars I'm familiar with start out with a nurse describing the various bariatric surgeries performed by the practice (RNY, banding, whatever). This is a general description of the way the surgeries work and an overview of the aftercare and what makes a good candidte for which procedure.
Then there's a discussion of insurance issues, followed by testimonials from post-operative patients. At the end the surgeons get up and answer loads of questions from the audience. Your seminar may be different, but it's probably aimed at the same goal: to make sure that the patients have a good grounding in the information they need BEFORE they get into a room with the doctor, and waste his very expensive time asking about the basics.

If you already know which surgery you want to have, this seminar may feel like a waste of time to you. But it's a great time to get a better feel for the surgical practice, get to know the people and see how they treat patients. Meet some postops in person and ask them what their experience has been like. You'll think of loads of questions as you listen to the seminar, and in the end you'll be glad you went.

Thank you very much for responding. The nurse I talked to told me the seminar would be about 2 1/2 hours but since I already talked to their financial person I would not have to stay and talk about that...? I know the only surgery I'm interested in having is the band. my husband would not support me having gastric bypass and since I'm self pay (Health america won't pay for a thing!) the cost alone is a deterrent.

After the seminar, do I then make an appointment to see the physician performing the surgery for a 1 on 1? It seems to me that insurance vs. self pay makes a difference in the amount of time spent going through all the motions. At first when I talked to the nurse she told me the first opening for a seminar wasn't until some time in March--once I said 'self-pay' she stuck me in the seminar scheduled for Friday. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to get the ball rolling! Do you know what the usual wait period is after seeing the doctor until having the actual surgery?

I'm sorry for all of the questions--there is a lot to know, a lot to get my mind wrapped around. I'm very excited about this journey and want to make sure i do it right! :confused:

Alexandra · February 12, 2007

After the seminar, do I then make an appointment to see the physician performing the surgery for a 1 on 1? It seems to me that insurance vs. self pay makes a difference in the amount of time spent going through all the motions. At first when I talked to the nurse she told me the first opening for a seminar wasn't until some time in March--once I said 'self-pay' she stuck me in the seminar scheduled for Friday. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to get the ball rolling! Do you know what the usual wait period is after seeing the doctor until having the actual surgery?

Well, the way it works at my surgeon's seminars is that there are people sitting right there ready to make your appointments for you. My surgeon's practice requires nutritional, psychological and physical evaluations, and if a patient hasn't already taken care of that they will make appointments for all of those things as well. Of course a patient who is self-pay will be able to move ahead much faster than one who has to wait for insurance to come through, but no matter what you'll have to do all the medical stuff just the same as everyone else.

So, depending on how efficiently you and your doctors move things along, I'd say it's going to be a minimum of two or three weeks before surgery. And it could be much longer if it's a very busy practice with lots of scheduling issues.

PghMomof3 · February 13, 2007

Well, the way it works at my surgeon's seminars is that there are people sitting right there ready to make your appointments for you. My surgeon's practice requires nutritional, psychological and physical evaluations, and if a patient hasn't already taken care of that they will make appointments for all of those things as well. Of course a patient who is self-pay will be able to move ahead much faster than one who has to wait for insurance to come through, but no matter what you'll have to do all the medical stuff just the same as everyone else.
So, depending on how efficiently you and your doctors move things along, I'd say it's going to be a minimum of two or three weeks before surgery. And it could be much longer if it's a very busy practice with lots of scheduling issues.

Thank you for your insight, alexandra! I'll keep you posted!