Expert: Diminishing Dawn - 3/9/2010

Question
I am going to see my Doctor this Thursday to try and persuade him into backing me for this surgery, I match all the criteria but am not sure what to tell him about getting the prior okay thru OHIP
I want the surgery in Canada so is there forms the Doctor has to complete for approval.  Please advise soonest and it is only two days away from appointment. Sorry for hurried request.

Answer
Do not do the prior approval. They are no longer taking them. To get surgery now, you must go through a bariatric assessment centre in Ontario.  As of December this is the new protocol as surgery is no longer being approved out of country.

The centres of excellence are here:

You can put a referral in to all or one of the centres.

St. Joseph’s HealthCare Hamilton
phone number : 905-522-1155 Ext 33240
fax number :     905-521-6152
website : www.stjoes.ca

Humber River Regional Hospital
phone number : 416-747-3720
fax number :     416-747-3731

Guelph General Hospital
phone number : 519-837-6440 ext. 2700
fax number : 519-837-6773

The Ottawa Hospital
The Weight Management Clinic
phone number : 613- 761-5101
fax number : 613- 761-5343
website : www.weightclinic.ca

Toronto Western Hospital (UHN)
phone number: 416-603-5800 ext. 6145
fax number: 416-603-5142
website : www.uhn.ca/applications/TWH/iNews/default.aspx

Windsor Regional Hospital Regional Bariatric Assessment and Treatment Centre
phone number: 519-971-9206
fax number: 519-971-9566
website: www.wrh.on.ca