Obesity in America
Bariatric Solutions For Severe Obesity
Sep 4th
For many people exercises and routine diets do not work, and they are unable to achieve any significant weight loss. Their efforts to lose weight are hindered by health problems such as hypertension, arthritis, hypertension, thyroid dysfunction and respiratory problems. Obesity is a problem that can have an adverse effect on an individual’s health and may reduce his/her life expectancy. The number of obese people is on the rise today and taking into consideration our fast-paced lifestyle this number is expected to rise in the coming years. If you have been finding it difficult to lose weight and have exhausted all weight loss methods, bariatric solutions may be the answer. Bariatric is a branch of medicine that offers effective and long term solutions to morbidly obese people.
Most of the hospitals that specialize in providing comprehensive and individualized bariatric solutions to meet their patient’s needs use bariatric EMR software. This software helps them record details of the patient’s medical history, medication prescribed, tests that are conducted and their results, any allergies and adverse reactions he/she may have to drugs, and weight and other medical conditions.
Bariatric EMR software is also used in clinics where the focus is on options such as offering dietary counseling to the patient along with regular monitoring and medication. This software is extremely user-friendly and health care professionals are able to enter detailed information about the patient’s condition in the system from anywhere. The patient’s primary physician is aware of any changes made to these details. Test results can be uploaded from any location and it becomes easier for the healthcare professionals and physicians to view them before they recommend a course of treatment. In fact some software makes it extremely convenient for the patient to enter their personal details without actually having to go through the clinic’s admin system.
For patients considering bariatric surgery it is important to keep in mind that this weight loss procedure is not just a cosmetic procedure. The focus or ultimate goal of any bariatric surgery is to reduce or eliminate problems that are related to obesity. Surgery is recommended only when your doctor is convinced that non-surgical approaches have not been able to help you reduce weight. Patients also need to be willing to adopt a radically different lifestyle where the focus is primarily on exercise and dietary restrictions. There is also a need to make a commitment to long term treatment and follow-ups.
The Cost of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Sep 3rd
Gastric sleeve costs can become extremely high and virtually out of reach for many people. Because this surgery is fairly new many insurance companies will not cover the costs of the surgery. Some insurance companies are now picking up a percentage of the cost as they see the benefits of the surgery. With the average cost of gastric sleeve surgery reaching close to $10,000 and very few insurance companies covering at least part of the costs, many people who need the surgery for health related concerns cannot get the surgery.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery: Breakdown of Costs
Included in the cost of gastric sleeve surgery are:
Hospital fees Surgeon’s fees Anesthesia fees Pre-op lab work X-ray fees Fees for any follow-up appointmentsCosts not included in the initial fee include:
Post-surgery care such as vitamins and supplements, behavior modification, exercise, and diet counseling. Other types of bariatric surgery that may be needed such as duodenal switch and gastric bypass surgery Body contouring surgery for the removal of excess skin, improving loose muscles, body lifts for saggy areas, or to treat any type of fat deposit. These types of surgery include a full body lift, breast lift, breast reduction, panniculectomy, breast augmentation, breast implants, or labiaplasty.With any follow-up surgeries, the more fat and skin that needs to be removed the higher the cost. This is due to longer surgical time and many more doctor visits.
The Factors that Affect the Cost of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
There are many factors that affect the cost of gastric sleeve surgery. Some of these factors include the following:
Depending on where you live the cost could be significantly higher. The cost for this surgery is much higher in urban areas and large cities such as Philadelphia and New York City as surgeons are in greater demand than in rural areas. Depending on your health plan, you may be required to cover all the costs associated with this surgery if they do not cover it. Cost also depends on whether you are using a surgeon or hospital that is considered and in-network provider with your insurance company if they are covering some of the costs. Cost will also depend on whether or not the procedure is done as an outpatient procedure or an inpatient procedure. Inpatient procedures will cost more as an overnight stay is required.If you need gastric sleeve surgery but cannot afford the costs of the surgery, talk to your surgeon about payment options. If your insurance company does not cover any portion of the cost of the surgery, sit down and figure out a payment plan that you can feasibly afford. When you meet with your surgeon, present this payment plan to him or her and find out if he or she can work with this plan. For individuals who need the surgery for health related concerns, obtaining some type of documentation from your doctor regarding the need for this surgery could be helpful. If you are able to get documentation from your doctor attempt to submit your written request along with documentation of need to your insurance company; this may work to your benefit where the insurance company could decide to pick up a percentage of the cost leaving you with a much lower amount to get the surgery that is needed to keep you healthy.
