Re: Re: Pacific Bariatrics in San Diego

[Guest guest]

so cal still goes to PB in san diego at least the fontana kaiser patients do ,, riverside cal which is right next to to fontana goes to a bareatrics surgery center called crown we were told and it just started that this year.. i had my surgery aug 18th 04 DR.Z orn.

take care and have a happy new year"Sandi H." wrote:

Kasier, in Northern California had a contract with Pacific Bariatrics Surgical Medical Group (also called PBSMG) and WAS sending their patients from No. Calif. down to San Diego. This was until after Kaiser had opened up more bariatric surgery services at South San Francisco, Richmond and Freemont (3 locations, in the Bay Area).As I understand it, they stopped REFERRING patients (from Northern California) to San Diego about a year ago. Anyone who had been referred to San Diego, like me, stil got their WLS surgery and followup from Pacific Bariatrics. I don't think that Kaiser covers WLS for any more Northern California patients. I suppose you might be able to have them do the surgery if you private pay, I'm not really sure how that works, though. (You can always check out their web site at http://www.pbsmg.com/)I think that I've heard of Southern California Kaiser patients having their surgery done by PBSMG, but I'm not sure.Personnaly, I'm glad that I went to San Diego for many reasons. However, I've heard that they are not the only surgical group that can do a good job on this surgery. Part of the success lies with the patient properly preparing for the surgery and following up with the reccomendations after surgery.As far as getting your WLS done in San Diego, you just need to ask Kaiser. I really don't know.However, I do know that Kaiser did contract with PBSMG to have them pay transportation and lodging for the patient, if the patient needed to travel a long way. I thing it was over 200 miles. For me, they paid my air fare and one night before I went into the hospital and 3 nights after I got out of the hospital in a local

hotel. They wanted me to stay close in case of complications during the first couple of days after I got out of the hospital (standard practice for PBSMG).Good luck with your progress. I'm sure Kaiser will provide you with good surgeons. Remember, half the job is yours. They just operate on your stomach, not your brain. You have to remember to follow the doctor's eating plan to make this surgery a complete success.Hey, now I'll get off my soapbox.--Sandi H.> Is it common to have your surgery at Pacific Bariatrics in San Diego even though one lives so far away from it? I'm in Oregon and would love to have my surgery down there since all my family is there and I would have great support... is that a possibility??? I hear they are fantastic!> > 8 more days

till my first appointment!> > in OR