We welcome patients, health professionals and /or surgeons to examine Fill Centers USA literature, protocols, trainings, commitments, and resources that you might be confident that each vital component of our organization has been carefully developed with the needs of the banded patient in mind.
- Question: Is there a period after a fill when you will "tweak" the adjustment if the initial amount is not tolerated well?
- Question: What are Fill Centers USA fees?
- Question: What is included in the initial visit?
- Question:
Will the patient receive a free adjustment at a later date if the provider is unable to access the port on the initial visit?
- Question: What is the cost for all office visits (after initial visit) and what does it include?
- Question: Do you offer an annual discounted plan?
- Question: Does the initial cost cover fluoroscopy?
- Question: What are Fill Centers’ philosophies on the initial adjustment being performed under fluoroscopy?
- Question: What about patients that have already had their surgery and have not returned to their surgeon for fluoroscopy?
- Question: What is your Medical Boards philosophy on fluoroscopy
- Question: Who reads the *fluoroscopy x-rays?
- Question: At what interval do you do fills?
- Question: When do the Providers perform a first adjustment?
- Question: What are the diet orders for the period after an adjustment or un-adjustment?
- Question: How soon after pregnancy can you be considered for a fill?
- Question: Who conducts your training?
- Question: Do you guarantee the provider will be successful in accessing my port?
- Question: When, how and why was Fill Centers founded?
Answer:
Fill Centers USA’s 72 Hour Overfill Readjustment Policy allows for patients to receive a readjustment at no charge if he or she notifies the corporate office within 72 hours, resulting from an overfill performed by a Fill Centers USA aftercare provider. Patients may leave a voice mail message if the Fill Centers USA corporate office is closed, after regular business hours. The patient must make reasonable accommodations to return to the Fill Centers USA aftercare provider within one week of notifying Fill Centers USA, of the overfill. If the patient cannot return to the aftercare provider within one week of notification or fails to notify Fill Centers USA Corporate Office within the specified 72 hour time period, then the patient will be charged for the cost of a regular follow up adjustment plus fluoroscopy fees if applicable.
Back to top
Visits start as low as $85 for an office consult (Does not include adjustment).
Back to top
Answer: Our Initital Visit includes providers time spent in collecting and documenting information, reviewing medical history, logging patient information into Fill Centers nationwide network system, setting up their Fill Centers account, evaluating patient and either conducting an adjustment or referring patient to a different medical professional for additional testing, evaluation or adjustment. It also includes the patient becoming part of Fill Centers Nationwide Network and acquiring access to Fill Centers resources/services. If adjustment is unsuccessful at initial visit, there will be a subsequent adjustment with same provider, for the charge of an $85 office consult.
Broken down more specifically the Initial Visit includes:
- Provider reviewing the patients’ medical history.
- Provider assessing the patient as to the most appropriate protocol to follow in the interest of the patient (performs an adjustment, recommend fluoroscopy, refer back to originating surgeon, confer with one of Fill Centers medical advisory board, or possibly not to accept patient).
- Administer an adjustment, if the provider concludes it is in the best interest of the patient.
- If patient was accepted as a patient, it would include the provider assembling and entering patients’ information into our Nationwide Networked database. This information would then be available (upon request of patient) to all Fill Centers locations, Fill Centers USA Medical Advisory Board, as well as the patients’ surgeon (if availability is possible).
- Membership to Fill Centers USA .
- Fill Centers USA Lifestyle Guide: (valued at $99.00) a one-of-a-kind user-friendly Guide that contains over 200 pages of day-to-day instructional guidelines for the banded patient. This Guide has been developed by a team of qualified professionals that has successfully participated in the pre and post care of the banded population for over a decade.
Back to top
Answer: If adjustment is unsuccessful (provider is unable to access port) at initial visit, there will be a subsequent adjustment offered with same provider, for the charge of a $85 office consult.
Although, for Fill Centers USA to accept patients coming from a range of surgeons we must be exceedingly cautious. Many times it is uncertain as to the condition we might acquire the patient... i.e.... flipped port, no port, no band, badly placed port, including other potential problems. (As we know, many medical professionals in the USA refuse to accept this particular patient population). We make every effort (prior to treatment) to inform the patient that our initial charge is assessed for the evaluation and/or attempted adjustment whether the port is accessed or not. Although we offer an adjustment at the charge of a $85 office consult for the next adjustment, with the same provider, the providers must be compensated for the time they spend with the patient in implementing our proprietary questionnaire, which serves to evaluate the patient so that the provider may make an informed decision, regarding treatment. After the assessment and attempted adjustment, (if applicable) the provider might deem it necessary for the patient to acquire fluoroscopy x-ray, for safety purposes. Patients need to realize that this is for their safety as well as the Providers' awareness of the port, band, etc. for continued follow up. Therefore, Fill Centers Providers have been trained on a thorough assessment protocol, prior to attempting treatment. If it is determined that fluoroscopy is the recommended course of treatment, the provider works with the patient to this best of his/her ability to facilitate fluoroscopy either locally or with another provider in the FCUSA network. This is a courtesy the provider extends to the patient. However, the fluoroscopy charge is a separate, independent charge by the professional, conducting the fluoroscopy. As with other medical specialists referring a patient for additional testing, Fill Centers Provider offers no refund for his/her time spent with patient initially, but does offer a subsequent adjustment with same provider at the cost of a $85 office consult (office call charges not included). This is what we feel to be a fair resolution, in regards to these types of situations.
Back to top
Answer: $85.00 includes an office consult, does not include an adjustment
Back to top
Answer: Yes, and it is highly recommended by our Medical Advisory Board as well as other legitimate sources. It is backed by current data that banded patients have better long and short-term outcome if they are part of a monthly follow-up program. For more information, Click Here!
Back to top
Answer: No. As with most medical professionals, some Fill Centers locations do not have x-ray equipment in their offices. They refer their patients out to appropriate specialists for required diagnostic fluoroscopy, and the charge for the additional testing is a separate charge to the patient. This is a common practice in the medical community and Fill Centers has chosen to do the same.
If Any additional testing, screening or x-ray (including fluoroscopy) is required it will be a separate charge to the patient and will not be paid or discounted from any future visits by Fill Centers or the Provider.
Back to top
Answer: There presently exists contradicting professional opinions on this issue. As a Company that primarily deals with the after care, ideally the originating surgeon would perform the initial adjustment under fluoroscopy. This information can then be documented on Fill Centers database so the provider will have a much better assessment of the patient. However, we realize that this is not always possible.
Back to top
Answer: For Fill Centers to accept the exposure of a patient under these conditions, he/she must initially be assessed by our screening questionnaire before determining whether fluoroscopy is required prior to attempting a fill. Most times, it is not required, although under certain circumstances the Provider will refer the patient to fluoroscopy for the patients well being. In addition, there will be situations that the provider will attempt but be unable to access the port for a range of reasons. Once again, for the safety of the patient the provider may suggest fluoroscopy.
If Any additional testing, screening or x-ray (including fluoroscopy) is required it will be a separate charge to the patient and will not be paid or discounted from any future visits by Fill Centers or the Provider.
If adjustment is unsuccessful at initial visit, there will be a subsequent adjustment with same provider, for the charge of a $85 office consult.
Back to top
Answer: The three surgeons that occupy our Medical Advisory Board recommend the initial follow up fill to be done under fluoroscopy by the originating surgeon. In many cases where this is not possible the *screening questionnaire will be implemented to determine the need for fluoroscopy. As a foreign surgeon Dr Ariel Ortiz, has always, and will continue to encourage his patients to return to him for their initial adjustment, under fluoroscopy. He will then document his port/tube/band information into the Fill Centers database that will remain updated by Fill Centers Providers across the nation. This creates an ideal system for him to monitor his patients care through Fill Centers USA .
*Dr. Ariel Ortiz, Dr. Lee Grossbard and Dr. Ross Fox are the authors of our proprietary questionnaire, which we consider the closest alternative to fluoroscopy. This questionnaire serves the Provider in evaluating the patient to reach a professional decision regarding treatment.
Back to top
Answer: Every situation is unique. If the provider only requires information as to positioning or condition of the port and/or band, the patient might be referred to a local lab technician for fluoroscopy. If technology is available, the fluoroscopy would be logged into our online database and either the provider and/or one of our medical board advisory surgeons would read the fluoroscopy. If the patient opts one of our surgeons’ offices for their x-rays, the surgeon will assess the fluoroscopy as he gives the adjustment, document it into Fill Centers database and the provider will have this information available to him/her for future follow up.
*If Any additional testing, screening or x-ray (including fluoroscopy) is required it will be a separate charge to the patient and will not be paid or discounted from any future visits by Fill Centers or the Provider.
Back to top
Answer: Every patient is unique in this timing. Fill Centers Providers training entails extensive information on this subject. It includes the screening questionnaire and personal history considerations that serves in determining the timing of the initial adjustment, intervals of adjustments, the timing of subsequent adjustments, and the process of determining if fluoroscopy is required. Every patient is significant and a great deal of assessment is completed prior to each adjustment. This protocol has been formulated in coordination with the three surgeons that comprise Fill Centers Medical Board. Accumulative, these surgeons reflect a successful history of over 5000 banding surgeries. This experience has played an important role in the development of our adjustment protocol. Following much deliberation, they are convinced this is the most effective protocol for these patients.
Back to top
Answer: Refer to Question/Answer # 14.
Back to top
Answer: Warm clear liquids for 48 hours unless dictated differently by Provider or surgeon under varying conditions of individual patient.
Back to top
Answer: 6 weeks
Back to top
Answer: Fill Centers USA training is an all-inclusive two-day instructional course covering aftercare for the banded patient. In coordination with Fill Centers Medical Advisory Board Surgeons, Kathy Fox conducts the classroom instructional portion. Ample time is dedicated to the actual clinical portion of performing live adjustments by at least one of our Medical Board Surgeons and most times two:
Ross Fox, Ariel Ortiz and Lee Grossbard
Back to top
Answer: No, our Providers have been trained on the best protocol and methods in the field. Some of the best surgeons in the world have trained them. Fill Centers USA is committed to strive for excellence. However, it remains difficult to satisfy every patient at every encounter. Many times surgeons themselves over-adjust, under-adjust, cannot hit ports, are required to make unpopular assessments, and cannot attain absolute success with every patient.
We do guarantee to make every effort toward constant improvement and to stay on the cutting edge that we might bring a significant service to the banded patient.
In addition, If adjustment is unsuccessful at initial visit, there will be a subsequent adjustment with same provider, for the charge of a $85 office consult.
Back to top
Answer: In September of 2003, Iris Stratton (CEO and co-founder of Fill Centers USA) journeyed with her overweight 17-year-old daughter to Mexico for surgery. However, the nightmare began when they returned to the USA and began to seek aftercare. After much trauma, insults and discouragement, Iris managed to persuade a previously banded Mid-wife/Nurse Practitioner to become trained in the art of adjustments. Once trained and passed the learning curve she became proficient at not only performing adjustments, but also consulting and advising the banded patients. She has performed hundreds of successful fills and takes pride in having over 200-banded patients from around the nation that are extremely happy with her care. (She has never punctured a port or tube). Iris states: “Had I given up on her after her first few encounters with my daughter, it would have affected many patients outcome. The surgery began the process but the aftercare is what made the difference in saving my daughters life, physically, socially and mentally”. As a result of this experience, Iris committed to do what ever it took to improve this situation for the many patients experiencing what her daughter had gone through. She has since invested the bulk of her time and money in the process of developing Fill Centers USA . Together with three renowned surgeons that shared her objectives and a handful of committed employees, Fill Centers has slowly become a reality.
These same surgeons now comprise Fill Centers USA Medical Advisory Board. For the past two years, they have willingly worked side by side with Iris to develop an organization to improve aftercare for the banded patients. Fill Centers is not a large corporation backed by deep pockets. As you can assess by our reasonable fees we are not attempting to make an significant profit from banded patients. Fill Centers USA Providers give willingly of their time and professional talents to improve their care for the banded patient. We, at Fill Centers all share the same mission: “To be a contributing factor in the evolution of this miraculous surgery that properly performed and properly followed can and will change people’s lives”.
Back to top
