Finding A Surgeon

[Guest guest]

I have started looking in earnest at having the surgery done. I called

my insurance (United Health) and asked if it would be covered when the

patient has type II diabetes, and was assured that it would be,

providing the surgeon follows the proper protocol and submits the

diagnosis and recommendation (they said a name for this, but I don't

recall it.)

So I asked for names of doctors who do bariatric surgery on the

Customer Service line (where they're supposed to know these things.)

They said they had no access to that information, but could give me

the names of doctors within 20 miles who do " general surgery. " Talk

about trying to find a needle in a haystack!

So at one of the offices where they told me that the doctor doesn't do

bariatric surgery (like all of the referrals I was given!) the

receptionist knew of one who does and gave me the name. I called and

am on a list for one of their " Informational Evenings " which is a

prerequisite to even seeing this doctor. And, amazing to say, he IS a

providor within network!

I live in SE FL, so I figure there just HAVE to be more doctors in

this area who do the surgery. I would like to have a choice and to

visit a few before I decide. I want to know how often the surgeon has

done this, etc.

However, I have met with a stumbling block. Is there a website where I

can research doctors who do this in my area? I'm new to this board, so

please forgive me if this seems like a stupid question to which

everyone should know the answer. I've checked the Database here with

no luck, checked the Links, also.

Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

--Cat