Advice for Pre-Ops

[Guest guest]

>>I am working on my contacts and was wondering if email contacts are enough.

Can I just print the emails to send to Dr. R., or do I just need to make a

list of who I talked with and what was discussed. >>

Hi Everyone -

I keep seeing some of the same questions, so I figured I would try to " share

the wealth " and let everyone in on some of the HELPFUL HINTS that Debbie gave us

at the clinic I attended....

1. DO NOT send a copy of every e-mail you received from your ten patient

contacts. All you need to do is list them all and include the person's name,

method of contact, and BRIEFLY describe your discussion.

2. DO NOT put all your patient information into a notebook or binder. Debbie

and Barbara only have to take it all out again. Debbie requested that you

separate your paperwork with yellow stickies or paperclips, and write the name

of the item on the sticky or a piece of paper, for example... " MEDICAL RECORDS " ,

" PATIENT CONTACTS " , " PATIENT LETTER " , etc...

3. DO put the headings and a paragraph underneath each topic requested in

your Patient Letter for the required letter contents. Example: " Understanding

the Risks of Obesity " and then explain what your understanding of these risks

are underneath. Dr. R. wants to see each topic addressed in your letter - and

he will refuse your package if this letter is not sufficient. (See Page 20 in

the Patient Manual for all the topic headings) DO NOT FORGET TO SIGN YOUR

LETTER!!!!

4. You do not have to print out the physical history form unless you want

to. This is simply a guide as to the kinds of information Dr. R. would like.

All you actually need is either a copy of the results of your most recent

physical, or ask your PCP to include in your Doctor's Support Letter that he/she

has examined you and that you have passed a physical exam. Yes - your pap

results must be no older than 6 months at the time you send them in. No - you

do not need a mammogram - UNLESS YOU ARE OVER 40 and have not had one in the

past six months. NO - YOU NO LONGER NEED A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM. (But my

insurance company refused approval until I had one - and Yes, I am sane.)

5. Try to attend a clinic well before your surgery date. (I live in New

York so I didn't do this, but I wish now that I had!) Debbie goes over

EVERYTHING you need to know about your patient information package, and Barbara

is also there to answer any questions about the paperwork end of this process.

Dr. Rutledge is (of course) available to answer any medical questions. IT IS

WELL WORTH THE TRIP! (Plus you get to meet some post-ops, and other

pre-ops...and everyone is SO NICE!!!)

6. Just FYI - at the clinic on 6/6/00, Debbie said that during Dr. R.'s

absence she and Barbara will continue to review patient packages (He has taught

them what to look for) and that they will continue to also set surgical dates

for those patients who have fulfilled all the requirements.

Wheew - sorry this is so long! Hope this information helps...if not, please

e-mail me privately and I will be happy to go over anything at cmsm97 @

prodigy.net

Good luck!

M.

MGB 6/7/00 - and I don't have a scale yet so I don't know how much I've lost!