Dr. Jaime Ponce, a world leader in the field of bariatric surgery for over 10 years, has a new surgical procedure, the Sleeve Gastectomy, which will be offered at Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton.
With this new procedure, patients "receive a safety net of protection from the cost of surgical complications," he said.
The sleeve gastrectomy is described as "a restrictive procedure in which approximately 85% of a patient’s existing stomach is removed. Because the intestines are not bypassed, malabsorption of nutrients is not an issue.
The sleeve is gaining popularity as an alternative to gastric banding or for patients whose risk factors are too high for surgeries such as the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure."
“Clinical studies are showing the successful outcomes available through the Sleeve procedure, and it provides just another option for my patients to achieve weight loss success,” stated Dr. Ponce. “Being a restrictive procedure, it is a minimally invasive option, but is providing patients with strong weight loss outcomes.”
Because the Sleeve Gastrectomy is still considered investigational in the United States, very few insurance companies are providing coverage for the procedure at this time, it was stated. With this in mind, Dr. Ponce has partnered with Portland, Ore.-based BLIS, Inc. to provide his patients with a surgical protection plan "to cover medical expense for surgery-related complications in the unlikely event that this should occur."
“Sleeve gastrectomy patients will likely be cash-pay patients and I want to provide them with the peace of mind and security of knowing that they will not incur additional out of pocket expenses should a complication occur,” states Dr. Ponce. “Although the chances of complications are minimal, everyone feels better knowing that the risk of extra expense is eliminated.”
Officials said, "BLIS works much like a product warranty. Protection from complication-related medical bills is included in the self-pay price for sleeve gastrectomy patients in Dr. Ponce’s practice. If a patient experiences a complication within a specified time frame after surgery, they can return to Dr. Ponce to determine the care that is needed and be treated, at no additional cost to them.
"Beyond complication protection coverage, BLIS also provides patients with the comfort of knowing that their BLIS Surgeon has been evaluated to ensure that their outcomes are falling within or above expected norms and have been evaluated against the entire population of BLIS approved surgeons."
“We continually monitor our physician partners to make sure that they meet our high quality standards,” states BLIS President & CEO Regi Schindler. “By being involved with our program, Dr. Ponce is providing his patients with peace of mind and showing just how committed he is to their long term success and safety.”
Dr. Ponce practices with the Gastric Band Institute Center for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, which has offices in Dalton and Chattanooga.