Anyone out there with Sutter Medical group i Sacramento Area?

adamsmom · 10-06-2008, 11:53 AM

I am shopping around. I am currently with Hills Physicians--6 month doctor supervised diet, nutritional consult, and behavioral consult BEFORE you are even considered for surgery!!!

What is this purpose??? So, I am interested in finding out what Sutter medical Group requires. Finding out from them has proven futile as I'm not a member.

Any one had experience with them? What hoops did you have to jump through??

**MacMadame** · 10-12-2008, 12:34 AM

I had my surgery at a Sutter hospital but I didn't go through PAMF, my normal medical group (they are owned by Sutter now). I went out on my own as a) my insurance allows that and b) I ended up self-pay.

Did you know you can appeal the 6 month diet and the DMHC (a group that oversees HMOs) will uphold your appeal. There is no peer-reviewed study that supports the 6 month physician supervised diet as improving outcomes.

Here is a link to their site:

Home

beadecked · 10-13-2008, 08:33 PM

Could I ask the name of the surgeon you had at Sutter Sacto? I'm hoping to get my Sutter Regional in Vacaville to get the ok for Sutter Sacto or Roseville to do my surgery.

**MacMadame** · 10-13-2008, 08:56 PM

It was in SF, not Sac. Sutter owns EVERYTHING in the Bay Area now, I swear!

I go to PAMF and Sutter owns them now. The way it works at PAMF is that your PCP refers you to the Bariatric center. Then they are supposed to give you a group appointment. That's as far as I got. My neighbor used them for his RnY though and he did lose 50 lb. before he had surgery. He was doing classes and meeting with the nutritionist.

I had trouble getting my group appointment because my insurance has an exclusion and the Bariatric center wouldn't return my calls. So I went outside the group. I had my surgery with LapSF and used CPMC in SF. They are also a Sutter company, but LapSF is independent. LapSF also does surgery other places, but not in the Sac area. They do "clinic" and suport groups out there but you'd have to come to SF for your actual surgery.

adamsmom · 10-13-2008, 11:04 PM

Hi,

The Sutter guys in the Sacramento area are Steven Patching--his office is on Howe Avenue, and he does his surgeries in the Sutter hospitals in downtown Sacramento, and Dr. Waldrep at Sutter Roseville. Both have lots of positive reviews, but Waldrep has COUNTLESS rave reviews. Everyone loves him! I have alos read reports of Sutter Roseville's bariatric department treating patients like they're in a spa!

beadecked · 10-14-2008, 08:42 AM

Thanks for the answers. I'm trying to push for Waldrep or Machado in Roseville if possible. My insurance covers both and I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!!