My surgeon won't operate because I complained

[missmee 32]

I switched because my surgeon left the hospital and no longer accepted my insurance.

[Mambeu 0]

there is some sort of disconnect. I would speak to patient advocate and the head of surgical services. going to joint commission won't do anything. Definitely find a different provider

[greensleeve 457]

I got an email today that they got my packet and assigned me to a coordinator. My old hospital didn't have coordinators.

[NMJG 1,266]

Find another practice ASAP and call your patient advocate at your insurance company for help.

no kidding. I sure as heck wouldn't want them operating on me.

[greensleeve 457]

I've dealt with the patient advocates before, they are useless.

[BellaHugz 331]

Run, Run Run.. when a doctors office shows you this kind of treatment after all you have been through I would say it is time to find another practice, get better professional treatment. You are worth all the time and effort you take to change your life you dont need to be subjected to this.

[greensleeve 457]

Thank you. I read on another thread that the hospital I'm looking into requires six months of dietician visits which I refuse to do.

I just do not understand how they don't get that you can have all the knowledge in the world but if you are hungry constantly you aren't going to lose weight.

If dieting worked I would have kept it off and not spent the last twenty years getting fatter and fatter.

[IncredibleShrinkingViolet 22]

I hear you on the dieting thing. My surgeon requires just a couple of weeks of a liquid diet with Vitamin supplements because he wants the stomach and liver to shrink before the surgery. It makes the surgery safer, and the stomach will be more healthy in its new, smaller size. Maybe your new surgeon will be able to do something like that for you.

If you have comorbidities, like hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, sometimes you can be put on what my insurance company calls the "fast track". That means just two weeks of the special diet rather than 6 months or a year. Makes sense to me!

The hospital that treated you so badly about the billing and scheduling should be addressed first to the hospital administrator. You might also contact a social worker, if they have one.

Hope this helps!

[greensleeve 457]

Thanks. I contacted the hospital and they said every one has a different experience based on their insurance.

I did weight watchers for 9 months and lost about forty pounds but then I plateaued and they acted like it was my fault. A couple of things that were said in meetings made me really uncomfortable. I felt like I was seen as a failure while people who only needed to lose 20 pounds were treated like heroes.

Then I decided to look into surgery. The bariatric program called UHC and they said I didn't have to do a six month diet. I was buying a house and decided to wait until we moved and got settled to have surgery.

So six months later I did all the testing and they submitted to my insurance but then the insurance co said I needed to do 6 months of a diet plan.

Then I spent a year trying to get weight watchers to provide me with proof, and appealing over and over and being told something different every time I called. Yes, Weight Watchers is acceptable. No it isn't. Well it is if a doctor is monitoring you. Well no it isn't. Well it is but the letter from Weight Watchers doesn't say what we want it to say.

It was a nightmare.

I just really hope this goes quickly.

[Kindle 8,667]

Ever consider self pay in Mexico? You could be two years post op and at goal by now. And you would be treated a heck of a lot better than you have been so far.

[greensleeve 457]

Ever consider self pay in Mexico? You could be two years post op and at goal by now. And you would be treated a heck of a lot better than you have been so far.

I dont have good credit and we don't have the money for it. I don't know what else to do. I'm also scared of having surgery alone so far from home.

Edited January 26, 2014 by Loveit2012

[trrinatl 1]

Try calling the state insurance commissioner and file a formal written complaint. Also, be sure to go to Healthgrades and write up a review.

[greensleeve 457]

I'm in the hospital now, had surgery yesterday. I'm so glad I switched!

[KeeWee 470]

I'm in the hospital now, had surgery yesterday. I'm so glad I switched!

So glad you switched too...that was horrible how they treated you. Did anyone ever call you back after going to the joint commission?

[greensleeve 457]

No and I doubt they will!