Do I Qualify? / Getting Started
Are you a candidate?
Your next steps in the Comprehensive Bariatric Program Process
Below is a list of steps that maybe required once you have attended an informational meeting and have been contacted by one of our staff members regarding insurance coverage.
DIET CLASS/CLASSES SCHEDULED:
Our program requires meeting with the dietician. Most insurance companies require 3 months to 1 year of dietary classes. During this time, information is gathered about previous attempts at weight loss. If your insurance requires, you will participate in a supervised weight loss program one on one with the dietician for the amount of time specified by your insurance company. Lastly, the dietician will do your dietary preoperative teaching and follow you through postoperatively.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION:
Psychological evaluations are required for all patients. Meeting with the psychologist ensures that you (the patient) have the capabilities required to commit to the dietary and exercise changes/requirements that occur with these procedures. Your psychological evaluation may require you to have ongoing therapy prior to surgery or throughout the surgical process. You must abide by the treatment plan provided in order to be considered a candidate for surgery.
CONSULTATION:
You will be scheduled to see the surgeon shortly after attending an informational meeting. At your consultation appointment the surgeon will review your medical history, the appointments you have completed in the process, and an in depth explanation of the surgery you wish to have. He will also perform a brief physical examination. Please be prepared to spend approximately an hour at the office that day. Additional appointments may be made after your consultation as deemed necessary by the surgeon.
INFORMATIONAL SEMINARS:
Our goal at the informational sessions is for you to meet the surgeon, obtain knowledge of bariatric surgical procedures, understand the process needed to under go bariatric surgery, and ask questions. Each session is approximately one hour with questions to follow.
SLEEP EVALUATION:
After seeing the surgeon, he may find it necessary for you to undergo a sleep study. This is an appointment with the doctor who specializes in sleep disorders. This doctor will check for the presence of sleep apnea - a serious condition that is characterized by brief interruptions in breathing during sleep.
UPPER ENDOSCOPY:
After seeing the surgeon, he may find it necessary to perform an upper endoscopy. During this procedure, performed at the hospital, the surgeon is able to view your entire upper gastrointestinal tract through a scope.
SUPPORT GROUP:
You must attend at least one support group prior to surgery; there are no exceptions. Make sure you sign in at the support meeting. The time, date, and location will be listed on our web site each month. Support groups are offered in Stevens Point and Rhinelander.
SURGERY SCHEDULED:
Once our office receives a letter of approval from your insurance company and you have completed all necessary pre-operative requirements it is time to meet with the surgeon once again. At that time the surgeon will explain in detail your preferred surgical procedure and its associated risks. Together we will pick a surgery date. You will sign a consent form and register for any additional pre-surgery appointments. You will need to keep all your appointments or your surgery may be canceled or postponed.
PRE-OPERATIVE EVALUATION/ HISTORY AND PHYSICAL:
Once your surgery is scheduled, our office will make arrangements for you to have a history and physical by your primary doctor. Your family doctor will give us the "ok" that you are physically ready for surgery.
PRE-OPERATIVE EVALUATION/ DIETARY APPOINTMENT:
Once again, you will meet with the dietician to review post-operative diet requirements.
PRE-OPERATIVE EVALUATION/ FITNESS EVALUATION:
This evaluation is done by a physical or occupational therapist. The therapist will evaluate you pre-operatively and post-operatively. He or she will establish an exercise routine that is right for you.
PRE-OPERATIVE/ PRE-ADMISSIONS APPOINTMENT:
A nurse from the hospital will call you prior to surgery to verify your medical history, medication and answer any question you may have prior to having surgery.
PATIENT INFORMATION PACKET:
Prior to us starting the process we will need you to complete the patient questionnaire and obtain a letter of recommendation from your primary care physician in support of you having bariatric surgery. This information needs to be mailed or faxed to our office or dropped off in the surgery department. We will then be in contact with you to begin the next step.
SURGERY:
Congratulations! This is the beginning of your new journey to a new and healthier lifestyle.