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Weight-loss surgery improved life for Christine Watters and daughter Grace, 3. Now, however, Mary Washington Hospital no longer offers the procedure.
Christine Watters weighed 368 pounds in late 2006 before having gastric bypass surgery. |
BY JIM HALL
Patients of the weight-loss surgery program at Mary Washington Hospital were surprised, sad and angry when they learned that the program was closing.
Now they fear the unknown.
About 180 people were affected when the Fredericksburg hospital abruptly ended its bariatric surgery program. Dr. Victor Stelmack, the surgeon, and his staff of six people will close their office at the end of December.
Patients have been referred to the Bluepoint Surgical Group in Woodbridge, a former competitor.
"Now I have to meet a whole new group of people I have no history with," said Christine Watters.
Watters, a 40-year-old resident of Spotsylvania County, had bariatric surgery at Mary Washington last year. When she returned to the hospital this month for a follow-up, she learned that the program had been canceled.
Watters said she was surprised, then "a little weepy," and finally mad.
Sheri Mitchell, a 40-year-old Stafford County resident, said she decided to have the surgery after attending a forum last month hosted by Stelmack and his staff.
She said she got clearance from her insurance program for a lap-band procedure and was waiting for an appointment when the program folded.
"I was so upset," she said. "You really work yourself up to do this. It's a very big decision for many of us."
A third patient who asked not to be identified described the closing as "a very tough moment."
"And it has been ever since," she said.
About a third of the hospital's patients had already had surgery and were participating in the follow-up program.
One patient said she had "fill" procedures in Stelmack's office at six weeks, eight weeks and 12 weeks after her lap-band procedure. She said she expected to have at least one more fill.
During the fill procedure, saline is injected through an access port into the band to make it tighter around the stomach.
Two-thirds of the hospital's patients were preparing for their surgeries when the program ended. At least one patient was on a liquid diet as part of a two-week countdown to surgery.
Dr. Denis Halmi and his colleagues at the Bluepoint group have already seen several of the patients who had December surgery dates.
"Last week we did two surgeries, and this week we have five patients from Mary Washington," Halmi said Monday.
Kathleen Allenbaugh, spokeswoman for Mary Washington, said that the Bluepoint surgeons have worked the Mary Washington patients into their schedules. Only one patient had her scheduled surgery delayed, she said, and that was for one day.
Several Mary Washington patients said they were upset with hospital officials for not giving the program more time.
"I realize it comes down to money, but I can't believe they're closing after only one year," Watters said.
Allenbaugh said that even though the program was growing, it did not show the kind of volume needed to become certified and to be successful long-term.
Patients also said they were impressed with Stelmack and the staff and happy with the results of their surgeries.
Watters, one of Stelmack's early patients, weighed 368 pounds before her procedure. Today she weighs 195.
"I am healthier than I have been in 20 years," she said.
Another patient who had a lap-band procedure in September and who asked that her name not be used said she has lost 65 pounds.
She described Stelmack and the staff as "absolutely phenomenal."
Mary Washington hired Stelmack early in 2007. Dr. Brian Mirza joined him last year but left in June and was not replaced.
This is the second time Mary Washington has opened and closed a bariatric surgery program. The first version lasted about nine months in 2002-03.
Halmi, the Bluepoint surgeon, said he was not surprised by the reaction of the Mary Washington patients.
"This is a little bit different than any other medical issue," he said. "The patient sees a solution to a problem that they have been struggling with all their life. When all of a sudden this goes away, it's quite a big trauma."
Jim Hall: 540/374-5433
Email: jhall@freelancestar.com
The Valpak envelope that arrived in some Fredericksburg-area homes this week has an advertisement that doesn't make much sense, given what has happened at Mary Washington Hospital. The direct-mail offering included a flier for the hospital's weight-loss surgery program and invited potential patients to a pair of information sessions next month at the hospital. Hospital officials decided earlier this month to close the weight-loss program at the end of December. They were too late to stop delivery of the ad. The forums have been cancelled. --Jim Hall
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