Hi every one,
I'm still in search of a local doctor who will accept me as a patient here in the Atlanta area. I had my surg done Aug 07 at Betancourt medical center in TJ Mexico. Ok so I have learned since that using them probably
wasnt such a good idea but I my insurance wouldnt cover the surg and I
am a self-pay. After many request I was told that they dont have any
medical records regarding my surg and since all I have is a book and a card with the type band I have no doctors here will see me. I am not
having any problems and have had 3 fills with USA Fill center but I would
like the security of having a local doctor if I ever needed one. If there is
any one who could be of any help PLEASE let me know.
Thanks

They dont have ANY Records or your surgery ? I call BS on that ?
Keep bugging them ! Good luck .

Mindy

I totally agree, I started asking for my records the day after surg and was assured I would be given them before I left. Well the day I left again I was assured they would be sent to me......After getting home and contacting them again I was told they do keep any records..But they did send me brief letter explaining the surgery went well and there were no complications. So now all I have is a book,card and a short little letter and the doctors here wont accept that.

I think i PMed you did you get a message from me ?
Mindy

Betancourt does not keep medical records. They are thrown away upon your discharge from their clinic.

You might have a problem finding aftercare, sadly many US docs tend to know the reputation of that clinic. :o(

If you have an emergency type problem go to an ER, they usually have to find you a doctor that will treat you. At least, we have in any ER where I have worked.

Who was your surgeon? They do low bidding surgery so it could have been one of several. You might go to that doctor specifically instead of the clinic and see if they kept a copy of the OR report. I doubt it but it's a shot.

So what is someone suppose to do ? Besides go back to Mexico ?
No chance of fiding after care in the US ?

Mindy

Oh yeah, there are doctors that will see any patients for follow up. She just needs to find one that will follow up Betancourt patients. Some states are better than others in seeing Mexican banded patients. But many doctors do require the OR report and xrays showing the band was placed properly to begin with before they will see the patients. That's why patients should always get those records before they ever leave the clinic/hospital. The three key items to bring home are the band card w/serial #, the OR report, and the barium swallow xray.

The information I got on the surgeon before I ever went down was on
Dr Lopez...listed as Jesus Martin Lopez Dominguez MD his creditionals look real goon on paper. All of my contact was done through Andres who was very nice and was very caring. Again I will say the experience went very well. I had no problems with any thing other than trying to get my OR and that doesnt seem real important to the people in MX. I never had a barium swallow x-ray done, he Andres did let me go in and watch another patient get her 1st fill and I could have had one done at that point but didnt think it was necessary (if only I knew then what I know now). Hopefully me PCP will be able to locate a doctor since I now have a current ultrasound and CT,EKG and
blood work. Which all came back fine...especially the blood work.

I hope your PCP finds someone too. Maybe shes got connections somewhere. But like WASA Said worst comes to worst you can go to the ER if someone seroius comes up . You are getting fills right ? So that's good. So things are "Sort" of covered for now . But I agree wiht you it would be best to find a doc to see you if you need them .

Mindy

try atlantabariatrics.com they are located in johns creek, ga near suwanee.

I wouldn't compare what Betancourt does with all of Mexico. "Mexico" is concerned with maintaining appropriate medical records. It is "Betancourt" that destroys them when the patient is discharged.

Why wouldn't he do a post op barium swallow?

I went along with some other patients who were there and one of them was there for her 1st fill.....I asked to go in and watch and they let me ( had to stay behind the screen) and after I saw her
swallowing the barium and them doing the fill. I told them I didnt see any real need for me to do it....(I know I know...WRONG) We have to keep in mind I was a newbie and yes very naive. I was pretty disappointed today when I got a message from my PCP's off that they
tried but cant find a doctor who will accept me either :( I will just keep trying hopefully I will eventually find one.

I had a hect of a time finding a US doctor to do a fill. Only one in 1 1/2 hours away would see me but when I had problems he couldn't service me because my band wasn't FDA approved!