The Ohio State University Bariatric Surgery Program is committed to providing you with the education and foundation necessary for long-term success after weight loss surgery. We ask that you are a partner in the process of preparing for weight loss surgery. We hope this guide will answer the most frequently asked questions.
- Register to attend one of our Free Monthly Bariatric Surgery Information Sessions – At this session you will meet the surgeons and the rest of the bariatric team and learn more about the surgery options and our program. You will also be given the opportunity to ask the surgeons questions and hear success stories from those who have had bariatric surgery. We will have application packets available for you to take home and complete.
- Applying for weight-loss surgery (bariatric surgery, gastric bypass, gastric exclusion, gastric banding) – Once you attend the information session and receive your application packet, take it home and be sure to read all instructions before filling out the forms. To prevent delay, please complete all forms.
Checking insurance. Before contacting us to schedule your evaluation appointments, be sure to call your health insurance customer service representative, and fill out the enclosed form. Your representative can help you determine if your plan has an exclusion for bariatric surgery, and whether it is a “covered benefit.” If your insurance does not cover surgery, we offer a self-pay option.
You will also need to ask if your plan requires you to have a referral to our program or “precertification” of the initial appointments, including your appointment with the surgeon. If so, these have to be provided through your primary care physician’s office. Our office will arrange for approval and precertification of the surgical procedure and hospital stay.
- Evaluation appointments – After you have attended the Information Session and completed your application packet, then contact one of our case managers at (614) 293-2888 to schedule your evaluation appointments.There are three parts to the evaluation for surgery. The dietary evaluation, psychological evaluation and medical evaluation. Some of these appointments are completed here at The Ohio State University Medical Center (OSUMC).
The dietitian will review the usual diet after surgery with you. She will review your past successes and failures with attempted weight loss and your current eating habits. An appointment with our Nurse Practitioner will be scheduled for the same day. During this appointment, you will have a history and physical exam and lab tests in order to screen you for general health status and any “comorbid conditions”—medical diagnoses that are made worse by clinically severe obesity (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure). These are usually reasons to have the surgery. These appointments will be scheduled for you at OSUMC.
The psychologist will administer some tests that indicate your style of coping with life events or stressors. He will talk with your about your current and past life and how your weight has affected your choices in life. NOTE: There may be an out-of-pocket expense for this evaluation. If you have any questions about this fee, please call (614) 293-2888.
- Diet teaching for success – If you have been found “ready” for surgery, you will begin learning about the diet after surgery in a series of classes. This is not a “diet,” as you may have thought of “diets” in the past. You will learn how to change your eating habits to work with the surgery. Remember, the surgical procedure will not “force” you to change your eating habits. The classes will also teach you how to avoid nutritional deficiencies down the road. We expect that you will continue consultation with a dietitian for life. We recommend fairly frequent visits to the dietitian for the first year as you adjust to your altered capacity, then annually for “tune-ups.”
- Insurance approval/predetermination of medical necessity – While you are learning new eating habits, we will contact your insurance provider(s) for “predetermination” of your weight loss surgery. For many, this may be viewed as the most difficult step. If you have followed all directions and forwarded all requested information, this will probably be routine. We will have informed you early in the process about what information your insurance company requires. Each company has different requirements to “approve for medical necessity.” We will let you know if additional information is needed.
- Meeting the surgeon – In ideal cases you will be scheduled to see the surgeon when you have completed the dietary teaching or just before finishing. Waiting for your insurance company to approve surgery is the most frequent cause of delay. Your appointment to meet the surgeon will not be scheduled until we have a letter from your insurance company stating your weight loss surgery is “medically necessary” and “approved,” and you have begun or completed the dietary counseling. At this appointment, the surgeon and his staff will review all the risks and benefits of the proposed surgery. We encourage you to bring along a family member or other support person; he/she can help you remember all the information you will receive at this appointment. Additional tests may be ordered. At this appointment you will receive your surgery date.
- Surgery date scheduled – In the excitement of getting ready for surgery, don’t forget to notify our office of your date. We still need to have your surgery precertified. Failure to perform this step can delay or cancel your surgery.
- Day of surgery – In all but a very few cases, you will come to the hospital on the morning of your surgery.The nurse case manager and probably, the Ambulatory Surgery Unit will give you instructions. Our hope is that this guide will make your journey smooth and trouble-free. Remember, once the surgery is over, your journey will resume. Obesity is a chronic medical condition and will need to be treated for life. The Discharge Packet you receive after your surgery will explain follow-up care you will require. In addition, we hope you will visit us at the monthly support group meetings. The support groups offer valuable information and strategies for a lifetime of success.
Please contact us with any questions at (614) 293-2888.