Re: Doctors in San Francisco Bay Area

[Guest guest]

,

Just wanted to throw in that you are very fortunate to be nearest to

Dr. Colburn, one of the the most experienced Ponseti method doctors

in the country.. you'd be going to one of the best if you could

arrange it. I'd investigate that option thoroughly and see what can

be arranged insurance wise.. I guess what I'm saying is that if you

can possibly avoid it, don't let insurance matters discourage you

from getting the best treatment, especially if it's right next to

you. Most of the doctors will arrange something.

Best wishes and congratulations in advance!

> Hi! My baby is due on June 7 and has been diagnosed with bilateral

> clubfeet. I haven't posted for awhile because I've been busy, but

now

> I'm going to start the search in earnest for a Ponsetti doctor.

There

> are two for Northern California who are on the approved list. The

one

> closest to me is with Kaiser, an HMO that doesn't see patients

outside

> of their network, the other one in Sacramento is with Shriner's.

I'm

> hoping for someone closer than Sacramento if at all possible.

>

> Also for those parents who used Shriner's, were you able to meet

your

> doctor before the baby was born? How hard is it to get a referral?

How

> long does it take? What I'm worried about with Shriner's is that it

> will take a long time to get to see the doctor after my daughter is

> born.

>

> I'd appreciated any help you wonderful parents can provide!

>

> Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Congratulations on your baby!

I can also only agree how lucky you are to be so close to Dr.

Colburn!! I just went there last week (I had to fly) and I'm not

insured with Kaiser either. They take outside of network patients

too, because Dr. Colburn is very interested in treating clubfoot

babies(You will get a nonmember card with a Kaisernumber)

All the casting we did with another doctor. Dr. Colburn did the last

cast on my son Kody which cost us $95.

Good for you that you have so much time in advance!

Good luck!

Kody 2/1/04 RCF atyp 20/7 DBB

Serendy 6/29/02

> Hi! My baby is due on June 7 and has been diagnosed with bilateral

> clubfeet. I haven't posted for awhile because I've been busy, but

now

> I'm going to start the search in earnest for a Ponsetti doctor.

There

> are two for Northern California who are on the approved list. The

one

> closest to me is with Kaiser, an HMO that doesn't see patients

outside

> of their network, the other one in Sacramento is with Shriner's.

I'm

> hoping for someone closer than Sacramento if at all possible.

>

> Also for those parents who used Shriner's, were you able to meet

your

> doctor before the baby was born? How hard is it to get a referral?

How

> long does it take? What I'm worried about with Shriner's is that

it

> will take a long time to get to see the doctor after my daughter

is

> born.

>

> I'd appreciated any help you wonderful parents can provide!

>

> Thanks!

[Guest guest]

,

Good for you for doing your research early and trying to get set up for

treatment now!

I agree with the others that Dr Colburn at Kaiser would be a great choice,

probably your top choice. I know that he sees patients who do not use Kaiser.

You'll need to be prepared to pay him up-front and get your insurance to

reimburse you.

Unfortunately, I have heard many negative reports about other doctors in the Bay

Area(for example at UCSF Medical Center and at Oakland Children's).

Our son, Jonah, is treated at the Shriner's in Sacramento and we have been very

pleased with the treatment we have received there. Only a few of the docs are

practicing the Ponseti method, so you would need to ask for them by name. The

doctors we have seen are Dr Lerman(who is on Dr Ponseti's list) and Dr

Boakes(who is not, but who is following the protocol).

If you begin treatment there, they will get you in right away. We have never

had any trouble getting an appointment when we needed it. I don't know if you

can meet with the docs before your baby is born, but we will be there in 2 weeks

and I can find out for you. All you need to do to get in is fill out an

application form(which can be done over the phone). They really don't turn

anyone down(the only case I know of involved a child who had numerous other

medical issues). The kindness and generosity anround that place is just

overwhelming!

They may have shuttles to and from San if the idea of traveling every week

for casting seems daunting. We drove down from the North Coast(Eureka/Arcata

area) every week for 5 weeks. It was nuts, but I'm glad we did it.

The main number is:

The Referral Center:

Good luck. If you have any other questions, please ask away.

Naomi

The Family

Naomi Hannah(02/21/01) Jonah(06/20/03, bilateral clubfoot, FAB 14/7)

Hamilton jenham@...> wrote:

Hi! My baby is due on June 7 and has been diagnosed with bilateral

clubfeet. I haven't posted for awhile because I've been busy, but now

I'm going to start the search in earnest for a Ponsetti doctor. There

are two for Northern California who are on the approved list. The one

closest to me is with Kaiser, an HMO that doesn't see patients outside

of their network, the other one in Sacramento is with Shriner's. I'm

hoping for someone closer than Sacramento if at all possible.

Also for those parents who used Shriner's, were you able to meet your

doctor before the baby was born? How hard is it to get a referral? How

long does it take? What I'm worried about with Shriner's is that it

will take a long time to get to see the doctor after my daughter is

born.

I'd appreciated any help you wonderful parents can provide!

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Naomi-

Thanks for your response! I really appreciate it...how long after your

child was born did you contact Shriner's? How long did it take before

they saw you? I'm just wanting to get an idea of the timeframe...

Thanks!

>

> ,

>

> Good for you for doing your research early and trying to get set up

> for treatment now!

>

> I agree with the others that Dr Colburn at Kaiser would be a great

> choice, probably your top choice. I know that he sees patients who do

> not use Kaiser. You'll need to be prepared to pay him up-front and

> get your insurance to reimburse you.

>

> Unfortunately, I have heard many negative reports about other doctors

> in the Bay Area(for example at UCSF Medical Center and at Oakland

> Children's).

>

> Our son, Jonah, is treated at the Shriner's in Sacramento and we have

> been very pleased with the treatment we have received there. Only a

> few of the docs are practicing the Ponseti method, so you would need

> to ask for them by name. The doctors we have seen are Dr

> Lerman(who is on Dr Ponseti's list) and Dr Boakes(who is not,

> but who is following the protocol).

> If you begin treatment there, they will get you in right away. We

> have never had any trouble getting an appointment when we needed it.

> I don't know if you can meet with the docs before your baby is born,

> but we will be there in 2 weeks and I can find out for you. All you

> need to do to get in is fill out an application form(which can be done

> over the phone). They really don't turn anyone down(the only case I

> know of involved a child who had numerous other medical issues). The

> kindness and generosity anround that place is just overwhelming!

> They may have shuttles to and from San if the idea of traveling

> every week for casting seems daunting. We drove down from the North

> Coast(Eureka/Arcata area) every week for 5 weeks. It was nuts, but

> I'm glad we did it.

> The main number is:

>

> The Referral Center:

>

>

> Good luck. If you have any other questions, please ask away.

>

> Naomi

> The Family

> Naomi Hannah(02/21/01) Jonah(06/20/03, bilateral clubfoot, FAB

> 14/7)

>

>

> Hamilton jenham@...> wrote:

> Hi! My baby is due on June 7 and has been diagnosed with bilateral

> clubfeet. I haven't posted for awhile because I've been busy, but now

> I'm going to start the search in earnest for a Ponsetti doctor. There

> are two for Northern California who are on the approved list. The one

> closest to me is with Kaiser, an HMO that doesn't see patients outside

> of their network, the other one in Sacramento is with Shriner's. I'm

> hoping for someone closer than Sacramento if at all possible.

>

> Also for those parents who used Shriner's, were you able to meet your

> doctor before the baby was born? How hard is it to get a referral? How

> long does it take? What I'm worried about with Shriner's is that it

> will take a long time to get to see the doctor after my daughter is

> born.

>

> I'd appreciated any help you wonderful parents can provide!

>

> Thanks!

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

For whatever it's worth, my daughter is seen at Portland Shriners and I got

hold of them on a Monday for a second opinion and she was in their clinic

the next morning at 8am. With CF, and the Ponseti Method, they should know

to get you in immediately. We went there, they had me take off her cast

(just happened to be her first one, and a good one at that even if it was

soft fiberglass). The doc came in, looked at her and said yes, he'd treat

her if I wanted. That was it. I filled out a short page of paperwork as

far as the *application* and haven't paid anything since. Her first cast

cost me $200, and with Shriners she's under their care for free till she's

18. Wonderful! One less medical bill to worry about, which always helps.

Kori

At 03:47 PM 2/14/2005, you wrote:

>Naomi-

>

>Thanks for your response! I really appreciate it...how long after your

>child was born did you contact Shriner's? How long did it take before

>they saw you? I'm just wanting to get an idea of the timeframe...

>

>Thanks!

>

>

>

>

> >

> > ,

> >

> > Good for you for doing your research early and trying to get set up

> > for treatment now!

> >

> > I agree with the others that Dr Colburn at Kaiser would be a great

> > choice, probably your top choice. I know that he sees patients who do

> > not use Kaiser. You'll need to be prepared to pay him up-front and

> > get your insurance to reimburse you.

> >

> > Unfortunately, I have heard many negative reports about other doctors

> > in the Bay Area(for example at UCSF Medical Center and at Oakland

> > Children's).

> >

> > Our son, Jonah, is treated at the Shriner's in Sacramento and we have

> > been very pleased with the treatment we have received there. Only a

> > few of the docs are practicing the Ponseti method, so you would need

> > to ask for them by name. The doctors we have seen are Dr

> > Lerman(who is on Dr Ponseti's list) and Dr Boakes(who is not,

> > but who is following the protocol).

> > If you begin treatment there, they will get you in right away. We

> > have never had any trouble getting an appointment when we needed it.

> > I don't know if you can meet with the docs before your baby is born,

> > but we will be there in 2 weeks and I can find out for you. All you

> > need to do to get in is fill out an application form(which can be done

> > over the phone). They really don't turn anyone down(the only case I

> > know of involved a child who had numerous other medical issues). The

> > kindness and generosity anround that place is just overwhelming!

> > They may have shuttles to and from San if the idea of traveling

> > every week for casting seems daunting. We drove down from the North

> > Coast(Eureka/Arcata area) every week for 5 weeks. It was nuts, but

> > I'm glad we did it.

> > The main number is:

> >

> > The Referral Center:

> >

> >

> > Good luck. If you have any other questions, please ask away.

> >

> > Naomi

> > The Family

> > Naomi Hannah(02/21/01) Jonah(06/20/03, bilateral clubfoot, FAB

> > 14/7)

> >

> >

> > Hamilton jenham@...> wrote:

> > Hi! My baby is due on June 7 and has been diagnosed with bilateral

> > clubfeet. I haven't posted for awhile because I've been busy, but now

> > I'm going to start the search in earnest for a Ponsetti doctor. There

> > are two for Northern California who are on the approved list. The one

> > closest to me is with Kaiser, an HMO that doesn't see patients outside

> > of their network, the other one in Sacramento is with Shriner's. I'm

> > hoping for someone closer than Sacramento if at all possible.

> >

> > Also for those parents who used Shriner's, were you able to meet your

> > doctor before the baby was born? How hard is it to get a referral? How

> > long does it take? What I'm worried about with Shriner's is that it

> > will take a long time to get to see the doctor after my daughter is

> > born.

> >

> > I'd appreciated any help you wonderful parents can provide!

> >

> > Thanks!

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi -

We live in Southern California and drive or fly to see Dr. Colborn.

He is truly the best on the west coast. Dr. Ponsetti's wife is the

one that told me this in August of 2002. We don't have Kaiser and

still see Dr. C with no problem. We pay up front with a check and

our insurance reimburses us. Getting insurance to approve it can be

challenging, but can be done. I've got a letter that I wrote to my

insurance that I can email you if you decide to see Dr. Colborn. We

have Blue Cross, who do you have???

We saw two doctors (one was certified by Ponseti) before we found

Dr. Colborn. I was a constant wreck with the other two doctors, the

first didn't believe in the Ponsetti Method and the second said he

followed the protocol to a " T " and actually didn't. Getting to talk

to them in person between appointments was impossible. Dr. Colborn

will talk with you by phone before you even have your baby. He

talked to me for 45 minutes on his day off when we had a concern and

our Ponsetti Doctor at the time wouldn't even return our call. To

make a long story short we never went back to the other doctor and

went straight to Dr. C. It was truly the best decision we ever made

and saved me many months of concern.

> Hi! My baby is due on June 7 and has been diagnosed with bilateral

> clubfeet. I haven't posted for awhile because I've been busy, but

now

> I'm going to start the search in earnest for a Ponsetti doctor.

There

> are two for Northern California who are on the approved list. The

one

> closest to me is with Kaiser, an HMO that doesn't see patients

outside

> of their network, the other one in Sacramento is with Shriner's.

I'm

> hoping for someone closer than Sacramento if at all possible.

>

> Also for those parents who used Shriner's, were you able to meet

your

> doctor before the baby was born? How hard is it to get a referral?

How

> long does it take? What I'm worried about with Shriner's is that

it

> will take a long time to get to see the doctor after my daughter

is

> born.

>

> I'd appreciated any help you wonderful parents can provide!

>

> Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Hi, :

Sounds like you've gotten plenty of feedback on your question, but

thought I'd chime in... I'm in the same boat as you -- in the pre-

birth research phase -- and was delighted to have received an email

back from Dr. Ponseti himself the day after we discovered that our

baby (due 6/20) has unilateral CF, saying the he highly recommended

Dr. Colburn:

" While there may be physicians in San Francisco who are successfully

using our clubfoot treatment technique, I am not aware of them.

Before a physician is added to my web site as being qualified, he

must submit photos of the feet of three babies he has treated showing

each child before treatment was started, in one cast, and when

treatment is complete. He must also give me information as to the

number of casts used, type of casting material, long leg or short leg

casts, was a tenotomy done, was local or general anesthesia used,

what type of brace was prescribed, what wearing instructions were

given, etc. By reviewing this material I get some idea of how well

the physician is applying the technique and if he is achieving the

desired result. Often physicians say they use the Ponseti technique

when in fact they have never been properly trained in its use or have

elected to make their own modifications which often compromise the

results...Dr. Colburn has been using my technique

successfully for several years. I have personally visited his clinic

on a few occasions and have carefully examined patients he has

treated. I have no hesitation in recommending him to you. "

I emailed Dr. Colburn that day and received an immediate reply from

him. We are also not Kaiser insured and as you've been told he can

treat non-Kaiser patients. The fees actually seem quite nominal (I

was expecting thousands upon thousands... a bilateral tenotomy seems

spendy though at $4530.), even if you're insurance doesn't cover all

of it. Dr. Colburn's business office forwarded me the following rates

(hope the format holds up in the translation!):

Club Foot: Non Kaiser Member visits with Colburn,

D.P.M.

ONE FOOT TWO FEET

1st visit w/o casting 175.00 175.00

Casting visit (each foot) 175.00 350.00

F/u visit w/o casting 125.00 125.00

Procedure:

Tenotomy, percutaneous (each foot) 2265.00 4530.00

Topical 5.00 5.00

Xylocaine 5.00 5.00

Injection 41.00 41.00

Tray 15.00 15.00

Casting (included in procedure at no extra fee)

Procedure total cost: $ 2,331.00 $ 4,596.00

Denis-Browne splint strapping 165.00 330.00

(RX given to patient to bring in supplies for this visit)

Xray 1 foot complete 3 views 220.00

Fluro 90.00

I was impressed with Dr. Colburn's compassion in his immediate reply

and was feeling infinitely better about the road ahead after hearing

from him. Thanks to all you other Colburn patients for your ringing

endorsements -- that gives us even MORE comfort and confidence!

Good luck and happy to connect with any of you Bay Area folks

directly offline once we're in the thick of it!

- Nicki