Rora W.
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Bengt Pehrsson
"3/4/03 I should have updated this sooner. Dr. Pehrsson is wonderful. Very caring, very friendly and very knowledgeable. The staff has also been very friendly and helpful. Nicole and Barbara in particular, so far, have really gone out their way to help me out and jump through the never-ending hoops with PA (Physician's Associates). Cigna has approved my surgery... but PA is all in a snarl and hasn't finished the paperwork. :::Growl::: All in good time I'm sure. 1/3/03 I haven't met my surgeon yet... I've been referred to him by my first choice surgeon (Dr. Lourie) because I have a large hernia right in the way of where the lapy would be done. :( My first impression of his office staff is not a good one however. I called the office as I left Dr. Lourie's office to make an appointment. On December 12 the earliest appointment they would give me was for February 23rd (!!!). And even then, it was quite a hassle since I didn't have a referral "in hand". I told them that should the two months go by, and I still didnt' have a referral, I would pay for the consult in cash. They tried to tell me that I'd have to stay a cash patient all the way through if I did that. (I checked with the California State Office of Managed Health Care - they can't legally enforce that.) I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt, and not rattle the law at them just yet... if it becomes an issue pre-op, then I will... otherwise, I plan to be selfish and wait until I'm post-op - since there's no better option for the open procedure for me. PA (Physician's Associate's the area's IPA) has a psych consult requirement. The only guy they use (through Pasadena Rehab) has his own issues - he argued with me about my son's ADD, told me about another patient, and decided that I should be in therapy and on Wellbutrin... He'll be a hobby once I'm post-op and have time to mount a campaign to get his license yanked. He also appears to have billed my insurance for two hours - when he was 15 minutes late for my appointment and cut me loose at 10 of the hour (that adds up to 35 minutes out of an hour to me) and I'm pretty sure he never again looked at my paperwork. I hope no one else out there has a similar experience... this was just mine - but do be careful. If you have a choice, the Psych that Lourie's practice uses is really pretty good and very nice. I've kept his card. :) I'll post on Dr. Pehrsson when I actually meet him. :) I've heard from other doctors that he's a good egg. :) So my expectations are high and bright. "

Phillip Corrado
"I hope my experience was an anomoly... this gentleman was 15 minutes late for my appointment and left the door to his office open to the hall. He started by looking at the two xerox "assessments" I'd been asked to complete (circling statements that apply). After less than 2 minutes he asked how long I'd been depressed. Since I wasn't aware that I was (and don't think I am), I joked "I don't know... you tell me." "Actually, some of those statements, there wasn't a good fit - so I modified them... should we discuss them?" His answer was "No... this is fine. You're depressed" During the course of the next 30 minutes or so, he told me about another patient, asked what I thought of her situation and then argued with me over my opinion (that an abused woman should leave the abuser - even though - or especially since there are now children). He took a call on his cel phone - it was for a referral - he then discussed his patient schedule for the day and engaged in personal chit chat. When he suggested I use Wellbutrin for my depression, I quipped about it helping my ADD and he wanted to know why I knew about Wellbutrin and what I knew about ADD. He then argued with me about the qualification for a Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician to diagnose ADHD. I gave up and escaped. His recommendation for surgery was negative until managed my "depression" via pills and therapy. My opinion is that he has quite a racket being the only psychologist that PA will use and they require 100% of their patients wanting bariatric surgery to see him. If this is the only exposure a person has to psychologists it really leaves a wrong impression."
About Me
La Canada, CA
Location
59.6
BMI
RNY
Surgery
04/01/2003
Surgery Date
Apr 02, 2002
Member Since
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