Obesity Program: Evaluation Process/How the Obesity Program Works

To start the process of evaluation for surgery, follow these steps:

First, call 612-873-5479 (or 1-888-873-5479 toll free) to make an appointment to attend one of the group informational seminars. Each seminar has two essential components:

• The first is our medical/surgical component, where you will learn the details of the disease of obesity, from the way it may affect you, to how you can ultimately beat it and live the healthier life you seek.
• The other half of the seminar is to educate you on the dietary needs you will have during and after obesity surgery, as well as the need for lifetime vitamin supplementation.

•  The first Wednesday of each month

  Information Class: 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

  Nutrition Class:      6:15 to 7:45 p.m.

•  The third Wednesday of each month

  Information Class: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

                     Nutrition Class:      2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

• The third Friday of each month

  Information Class: 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

  Nutrition Class:      8:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

• The second and fifth Mondays of each month

                    Information Class: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

                    Nutrition Class:      2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

After your class is scheduled, the Obesity Program staff will send you a brochure describing the obesity surgery options and a health information questionnaire. We ask you to fill out this detailed questionnaire about your medical history to determine if you would benefit from further medical, nutritional, physical therapy or psychological evaluation and care prior to your obesity surgery.

The questionnaire must be completed and a referral from your primary care provider must be sent to our office in order to proceed with the program.  If there is not a referral from your primary care provider, or if the questionnaire is not complete, it will delay your process in the obesity program.

After you complete the seminar and the patient questionnaire -- and any other recommended evaluations -- you are referred to see one of our obesity surgeons to complete the evaluation process. At this point, if you are ready, we will schedule your obesity surgery after receiving prior authorization approval from your insurance company.

VERIFYING INSURANCE COVERAGE
If the patient wishes to proceed with surgery, the surgeon then writes to his or her medical insurer requesting authorization. No procedures are scheduled until we have received a written, authorized approval from the insurer.

SURGICAL EVALUATION

Once approved – and most patients are approved if properly evaluated in this manner –

the patient is called and a convenient time is set for surgery.  To prepare for it, some patients undergo an ultrasound examination of the gallbladder for gallstones. (Gallstones are frequently associated with obesity and may also occur during rapid weight loss.) If the ultrasound does reveal problems, and if the patient agrees to it, the gallbladder is removed during the bypass operation.  Some patients may require additional preoperative blood tests or x-rays as well.

AFTER CARE

After your obesity surgery, we have a complete after-care program we invite you to take part in. We have regular follow-up visits scheduled for you with our surgeons, our bariatric program internal medicine doctors, our nutritionists, and our other specialists. These follow-up visits are tailored to your individuals needs. Additionally, you are invited to attend our professionally run support group that meets regularly to talk with others who have also undergone weight loss surgery.