U of U Health Bariatric Surgery Program

FINANCIAL WARNING: This clinic obtained preauthorization for my procedure from my insurance company. After my surgery, the clinic failed to provide my insurance company with their "clinic notes", causing the insurance to deny my claim (See attached photo for insurance denial). After insurance wouldn't pay, U of U hospitals sued me for the entire cost of the surgery, without applying the insurance or the self-pay discounts. The amount of the suit was $68,000. Having this surgery was the WORST decision I ever made.
Jun 15th, 2021

Sep 20th, 2018

I had my bariactic surgery at U of U with Dr Volkman and have been so happy with it. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Oct 31st, 2017

I had high hopes for this program, given their University affiliation. Unfortunately, I was met with punitive and hostile-controlling providers, weird neglect, and rank incompetence. Medical professionals should likely understand that the best way to motivate patients and ensure compliance is from a position of warm authority as well as respecting patient autonomy. Instead, at almost every turn, I was met with orders for what I, a well-educated and capable person *must* do. Despite having been weighed the day before *in their clinic*, I was ordered to submit to a weight measurement again, despite my clear explanation that weight is sensitive for many, and I had already been weighed the day before. Rather than explain why this was necessary, I was told simply that it "must" be done. No attention to my experience as a human being. And this autonomy-squashing approach appeared in almost every other encounter I had with their program. The dietician actually made faces as I explained my situation. He also told me I would need to lose a certain amount of weight, which was fine, but bizarrely refused to answer questions about a deadline, and best practices for losing weight, and rationale. So I was left with a weight loss requirement, but no guidance on when or how. Later on, when I vulnerably shared that I was struggling with the requirements, he coldly suggested that the program wasn't for me if I couldn't follow them. No collaboration, no support, just punitive control with the threat of rejection. Gross. Totally gross. Unfortunately, it does not end there. I had a required sleep study with one of their clinicians and was told results could be delayed slightly due to the holidays. I waited well past the time they suggested results would be available before I inquired. With apologies, the clinician informed me I did not have sleep apnea. Good news -- except that TWO MONTHS LATER she reached out, having forgotten, I guess, that she had already delivered a result, and told me I DID have sleep apnea. When I inquired, baffled, that she had already told me I didn't have sleep apnea, she seemed confused.
Apr 21st, 2023