Your First Step: What to Expect?

The Eight Steps to Surgery: your patient checklist for metabolic / bariatric surgery.

8 Steps to Surgery

• STEP ONE: RESEARCH
  We encourage you to attend seminars, attend support groups, and talk to people you know who have undergone bariatric surgery.
• STEP TWO: CONTACT US
  Once you have completed your research and are ready to proceed with surgery, contact us. There are 2 ways to start the process:
  1. Attend a scheduled seminar. See Support Group & Seminar Schedule.
  2. Free Insurance analysis. - We accept walk-ins Monday - Friday 8:00a.m. - 3:30p.m. Once you come in to our Center, you will meet with an insurance specialist who will go over your specific insurance criteria with you. You will also receive an online seminar access code, for viewing at your convenience, our online seminar. With the access code, you have the opportunity to view the seminar many times to ensure a full understanding for both you and your family.
• STEP THREE: Attend a free Informational Seminar.
  Baptist Metabolic Surgery Center offers seminars weekly. We provide general seminars which cover lap-band, gastric bypass and duodenal switch and lap-band only seminars which feature a detailed discussion of the lap-band system. Baptist Metabolic Surgery Center also offers the opportunity to complete the seminar requirement online through a program called EMMI. You are required to attend at least one seminar. There is no cost to attend! If you attend a live seminar, please bring your insurance card with you, so we can verify benefits and coverage criteria for bariatric surgery.
• STEP FOUR: Speak with your Primary Care Physician about bariatric surgery.
  Obtain a letter of support for bariatric surgery that includes a list of your current medical problems. The letter should include a history of weight related problems and all prior weight loss programs attempted. This letter can be mailed or faxed. Additional information may be requested to obtain your insurance approval. A detailed checklist will be given to you at your insurance analysis consultation.
• STEP FIVE: All patients are required to attend one procedure specific Nutrition/Preparation for Surgery class.
  The classes are approximately 1-1.5 hours long and are held weekly. All patients are required to attend at least one support group prior to surgery. A listing of our support groups is available on this site. You may attend a support group at another facility; however, the leader of the group will need to communicate to us that you attended.
• STEP SIX: Psychological evaluation and clearance are required before surgical candidacy can be determined.
  We offer a choice of two groups who may complete your psychiatric evaluation. Most insurance companies require the psychiatric evaluation results be submitted with the request for approval for surgery.
• STEP SEVEN: The insurance approval process will start once it has been determined you are a surgical candidate.
  You may contact your insurance company directly. The insurance approval process varies greatly by company and can take up to eight weeks or more. Upon approval by your insurance, your insurance specialist will notify you at once. Please be patient with us as we do everything we can to obtain approval for your surgery.
• STEP EIGHT: Your pre-operative appointment will include examination by the surgeon and education by the Nurse Coordinator and a Registered Dietician.
  The pre-op testing will last about 2-3 hours. Pre-Admission Testing is located at Baptist hospital. This testing will be done 2-3 weeks before surgery.

Seminar Schedule and Support Groups
All patients are encouraged to attend a surgeon led seminar prior to consultation. The seminars are free of charge and are open to patients, family members and friends. The seminar covers all aspects of weight loss surgery, the four procedures performed, the entire process from the consult to the aftercare, risks of surgery, complications, outcomes, medications and diet. Click here to register for a seminar.

General Seminar General Seminar Location:

Baptist Hospital
Metabolic Surgery Center[ click here for map ]
2021 Church Street, Suite 104
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
(615) 284-2400

For directions to the Metabolic Surgery Center Office, click here or call the office at (615) 284-2400.

Online Seminars
The Metabolic Surgery Center is proud to offer our patients the choice of viewing an online seminar via Emmi™. Emmi™ speaks in plain language and uses clear graphics; answers common questions; and allows patients to ask their doctor questions as they come to mind.

The result? Patients are better prepared to care for themselves before and after surgery. Their families understand what's involved and how they can provide support. Emmi™ is an Internet-based, multimedia program that gives you a very clear sense of what to expect before, during and after your surgery. It will answer many of the common questions that you may have and you can type in other questions specifically for your doctor. You may view Emmi™ at your pace, learn about the condition and procedure and ask the right questions. You may also view Emmi with friends, family and those who will be supporting you during your surgery.

To view an online seminar via Emmi™ call our office at (615) 284-2400. We will need your name, address, phone number, date of birth and email address to schedule your Emmi™. We will then provide you with a user specific log on code to view Emmi™. After viewing Emmi™, if you are interested in pursuing surgery through the Metabolic Surgery Center, you will need to call the office so that we may facilitate your next steps.

Support Group Schedule

• Gastric Bypass (The Staple Club) - First Tuesday of each month at 5:30pm

• Lap Band (The Bandstanders) - First Thursday of each month at 5:30pm

• Dickson Weight Loss Surgery Support Group - First Monday of each month at 6:00pm