Kaiser?

[ans]

Feh! I may have to change to 'em from necessity.

Anyone know of any good spine surgeons in Southern CA? I know from another forum they do ADRs (sometimes) but I have no idea if I'd be the "3rd patient" human experimental subject.

Be well people. - Allan

[runner]

any good Kaiser surgeons or any good regular run-of-the-mill type surgeons?

[Jessica]

Hello Allan,
I thought you would get some enjoyment from this :0

My No. Cal Kaiser surgeon offered to do my 2nd ADR as his 1st ADR surgery! Wow! I was in shock! I thought maybe he had not done many.... but zero? And then for my 2nd ADR at an adjacent level? Is he insane? Maybe not insane but at the very least overconfident. He said he would call the manufacturer, get the instrumentation figured out, and do my surgery. He did not say that he would have someone with experience in ADR join him or anything.

Needless to say, I respectfully declined. I will spend 30k before I be someones 1st case on my 2nd level. My hat is off to all those who may have gone 1st.

[Katie]

Jessica ..... Good call on your part

I don't know if I am any worse off up here where we only have the government system. At least you have the option of moving around a bit.......

[dshobbies]

What does it say about our health care syster when Kaiser used to be considered a joke and is now considered one of the best HMO's available?

From the stories I still hear, they are still Kaiser but the other stories are so much worse.

Even if you find a good doctor, getting your ins co to pay is another story

Ouch, all the way around.(for lack of a better word)

[dridobits]

I have Kaiser no. CA also. I have an appt. to see the surgeon in a week. I knew they were kinda inexperienced but this is crazy!!! I have two other appts. with non Kaiser docs and think that is the way I will go. How I'll scrape up the money I have no idea how but I've got to do this.

Also fyi...do you have a copy of your contract? This may be helpful for you in regards to the future and knowing exactly how they will cover you after surgery if you do go out. At first when I asked them people said they would not cover me, then I got a different answer. My question now is...when after outside surgery are they willing to start coverage? I.E. what happens if I have an emergency from surgery while I'm out of state and have five extra days in the hospital as a result. Who covers this.

[dridobits]

Well I am surprised to say I met with Dr. Baines and had a really good experience with him. He did feel adr was a no go for me which I kind of knew might be coming. He hasn't done so many ADR's but has done over 300 fusions so I feel better with that. I was expecting them to give me a hard time as I've gone through a lot with them but he was thorough, very supportive and felt there was about a 75 percent chance of helping me and that was without what the artile I had from Derby. So, I'll let you know what happens. I believe he replaced Dr. Gorek who was head surgeon at Kasier Oakland and I believe Dr. Baines has now replacemtent. I will do my research but so far I was really surprised. Maybe the squeaky wheel finally got the grease?

[dridobits]

I'm beginning to feel for me it's like....lose my home or lose my back. Such a terrible position to be in. Such an impossible decision to make.

[Katie]

Oh my lordie, I feel so bad for you. No one should be in that position. Does Kaiser not pay for this? I may be confused, but I thought it was just the other NYC doctors who would be draining you dry, that if you stayed at home with one, it would be covered with your insurance. I guess I'm misunderstanding....again.

I truly hope this all works out in your favour. Things can't get much more stressful, can they!

[ans]

Thanks for your replies. I sure wouldn't want to be a two level ADR guinea pig.

My best in your surgeries and glad there's a good surgeon in Oakland. Wonder if one in LA could have surgery there.

Yeah, says something that it's considered the best HMO.

Allan