NCatena
12-30-2004, 06:34 AM
Hi all!
My name is Nanette. I am the Program Coordinator for Hampton Bariatric (Dr. Allam). I wanted to walk you through your first visit with us. I hope it answers any questions you may have.
1. You will come to our office with your insurance cards, etc. If you require a referral from your insurance company, please make sure you have one, and that it is good for at least 3 visits. This will get you to your surgical date.
2. I will ask you to complete a few pages of information about yourself. Be prepared (depending on your insurance comapnies requirements) to fill out a "diet and exercise history" page. Some require/some do not.
3. Once that is done, you will meet Dr. Allam. He will ask you many questions such as "how long have you been overweight, do you have other health issues, what made you seek out bariatric surgery, etc." He will ask you your height, take your weight, and then calculate your BMI. You will be given a folder FILLED with information you will need to get through this process. He will explain it to you. Your primary care physician will recieve letters after each pre-op visit, to keep him/her informed of your progress.
4. Once you leave the office, you will begin to make your appointments with the doctors we advised. The first appointments you need will be with the nutritionist (Pat...a living doll!) and a psychologist. Making the appointments immediately gets us closer to your surgery. Call me AS SOON AS YOU HAVE THOSE APPOINTMENTS! I will schedule the second appointment, and at that appointment, we choose your surgical date. Feel free to make the rest as well. Some of the doctors are very busy, and hard to get in with. The sooner you call, the better. I advise that you call them all the day of your first visit.
5. You may need a letter of medical necessity from you primary care physician. Again, some insurances require it, others do not. I feel that to have it is better. They can fax it to me. 287-6213 There are guidlines for that letter in the blue folder we give to you. If your doctor has any questions, he/she can call me. I will be happy to guide them through!
6. Once I have all the documentation I need, I will call or fax your information to your insurance company to "precertify" your surgery. This process can take as little as a day or two, or a week or so. The more info I have early on, the better. Most insurance companies are easy to deal with, with a few exceptions. I will discuss that with you at the office, or you can call me there.
7. Once we have your surgical date, your final appointment will be scheuled with us on that same date as your pre-op testing. That is 6 days prior to your surgery. Follow the instructions given to you regarding your diet on those days.
8. SURGERY DATE! Once you are back up to your room, the nurses will determine when it's time for you to walk. DO IT! You may not feel like it, but the more you walk, the sooner you will heal. DO NOT drink anything unless Dr. Allam says it's ok!! NOTHING! You will be thirsty, but an IV will be in place, giving you all the fluids your body needs. It is imperitive to wait until you have passed the gastrografin test. It will determine if the stomach pouch is ready for fluids.
9. If all goes according to plan, you will go home after 2 days. You will be instructed to call me to make your first post-op viit. At that visit, the staples are removed. Then, we see you monthly for a check-up, lab work every other month. Please, for your own sake, keep up with your appointments! It is important that you be checked for weight loss, hernias, fungal skin infections, anemia, etc.
10. Attend support group meetings. Studies show that people who attend the meetings are more successful than their peers that do not. We are a rowdy bunch, and we have fun at the meetings. Dr. Allam, Pat (nutrition) and Maria (psychologist) will all be there, as well as lots of people in many different stages of recovery. I will also be there to answer any questions. Support group is every 3rd Tuesday at the Hampton Bays Public Library. 6:30pm-8:30pm. Come at 6pm if you are new, so I can help you with your insurance questions, or anything other questions you may have.
I am also a Gastric Bypass patient, as well as 2 of my daughters. I know exactly what you are feeling, and will be more than happy to help you in any way I can.
Follow the advise of the professionals....attend support meetings.....and LIVE YOUR LIFE to it's fullest! I look forward to helping you make this amazing change! I hope this is helpful to you! Call me anytime at the office, if you need anything! I am there for you! :D
Nanette
My name is Nanette. I am the Program Coordinator for Hampton Bariatric (Dr. Allam). I wanted to walk you through your first visit with us. I hope it answers any questions you may have.
1. You will come to our office with your insurance cards, etc. If you require a referral from your insurance company, please make sure you have one, and that it is good for at least 3 visits. This will get you to your surgical date.
2. I will ask you to complete a few pages of information about yourself. Be prepared (depending on your insurance comapnies requirements) to fill out a "diet and exercise history" page. Some require/some do not.
3. Once that is done, you will meet Dr. Allam. He will ask you many questions such as "how long have you been overweight, do you have other health issues, what made you seek out bariatric surgery, etc." He will ask you your height, take your weight, and then calculate your BMI. You will be given a folder FILLED with information you will need to get through this process. He will explain it to you. Your primary care physician will recieve letters after each pre-op visit, to keep him/her informed of your progress.
4. Once you leave the office, you will begin to make your appointments with the doctors we advised. The first appointments you need will be with the nutritionist (Pat...a living doll!) and a psychologist. Making the appointments immediately gets us closer to your surgery. Call me AS SOON AS YOU HAVE THOSE APPOINTMENTS! I will schedule the second appointment, and at that appointment, we choose your surgical date. Feel free to make the rest as well. Some of the doctors are very busy, and hard to get in with. The sooner you call, the better. I advise that you call them all the day of your first visit.
5. You may need a letter of medical necessity from you primary care physician. Again, some insurances require it, others do not. I feel that to have it is better. They can fax it to me. 287-6213 There are guidlines for that letter in the blue folder we give to you. If your doctor has any questions, he/she can call me. I will be happy to guide them through!
6. Once I have all the documentation I need, I will call or fax your information to your insurance company to "precertify" your surgery. This process can take as little as a day or two, or a week or so. The more info I have early on, the better. Most insurance companies are easy to deal with, with a few exceptions. I will discuss that with you at the office, or you can call me there.
7. Once we have your surgical date, your final appointment will be scheuled with us on that same date as your pre-op testing. That is 6 days prior to your surgery. Follow the instructions given to you regarding your diet on those days.
8. SURGERY DATE! Once you are back up to your room, the nurses will determine when it's time for you to walk. DO IT! You may not feel like it, but the more you walk, the sooner you will heal. DO NOT drink anything unless Dr. Allam says it's ok!! NOTHING! You will be thirsty, but an IV will be in place, giving you all the fluids your body needs. It is imperitive to wait until you have passed the gastrografin test. It will determine if the stomach pouch is ready for fluids.
9. If all goes according to plan, you will go home after 2 days. You will be instructed to call me to make your first post-op viit. At that visit, the staples are removed. Then, we see you monthly for a check-up, lab work every other month. Please, for your own sake, keep up with your appointments! It is important that you be checked for weight loss, hernias, fungal skin infections, anemia, etc.
10. Attend support group meetings. Studies show that people who attend the meetings are more successful than their peers that do not. We are a rowdy bunch, and we have fun at the meetings. Dr. Allam, Pat (nutrition) and Maria (psychologist) will all be there, as well as lots of people in many different stages of recovery. I will also be there to answer any questions. Support group is every 3rd Tuesday at the Hampton Bays Public Library. 6:30pm-8:30pm. Come at 6pm if you are new, so I can help you with your insurance questions, or anything other questions you may have.
I am also a Gastric Bypass patient, as well as 2 of my daughters. I know exactly what you are feeling, and will be more than happy to help you in any way I can.
Follow the advise of the professionals....attend support meetings.....and LIVE YOUR LIFE to it's fullest! I look forward to helping you make this amazing change! I hope this is helpful to you! Call me anytime at the office, if you need anything! I am there for you! :D
Nanette