OUR PROGRAM

INITIAL EVALUATION

Once you have become educated and made the personal decision to pursue weight loss surgery, your next step is to meet with a bariatric surgeon. You can make an appointment with Dr. Butch Rosser, at which time he and his staff will help you start the process of determining if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery.

Keep in mind, your initial evaluation is very important and, therefore, consists of a thorough physical examination, as well as an extensive discussion of the medical and weight loss history. As such, please be prepared to spend approximately two hours with Dr. Rosser.

We also ask that you realize the importance of this appointment and ensure that you arrive on time. If you cannot make your appointment, it is critical that you call in advance to reschedule. We cannot accommodate anyone arriving more than 1 hour late, as it will cause conflicts with subsequent patient appointments. Arriving late will result in having to reschedule your consultation for another day.

When you arrive for your appointment, be sure to have your completed initial evaluation packet in hand (explained below). If you have not filled out all of the forms you received from our office by the time of your appointment, we will have to reschedule your initial consultation for another day.

Initial Evaluation Forms and Questionnaires

Upon scheduling an appointment with Dr. Rosser, you will be sent a packet containing various forms and questionnaires. You will be required to fill out these documents prior to your visit, as they will help you and Dr. Rosser to better understand you as a potential weight loss surgery patient.

The required forms are:

Ambulatory Patient Self Assessment for Initial Visit
This form covers your general medical and health history, such as conditions you may have and medications you may take.

Bariatric Surgery Center — Initial Evaluation Form
This form focuses specifically on issues surrounding your history of being nutritionally challenged.

Bariatric Surgery Questionnaire
This questionnaire focuses on why you are choosing weight loss surgery, as well as uncovering any physical and psychological issues linked to excess weight.

We also request that you prepare a self-written 2-page letter stating the challenges and obstacles you face being nutritionally challenged. This is designed to give Dr. Rosser better insight into your particular situation and at the same time can be an enlightening experience for you.

Your First Appointment with Dr. Rosser
Your initial consultation will take place at the Phillips Ambulatory Care Center (PACC) located at 10 Union Square East at 14th Street. When you arrive, you should report to room 2N and sign in with Dr. Rosser's assistant, Julie Johnson. Your completed patient packet should be turned in to Diana for review.

You will then be asked to watch two short videos, one patient information video which will provide you with a general understanding of obesity and weight loss surgery, and another which will illustrate the story of Dr. Rosser's personal journey through weight loss surgery.

You will then be triaged by our staff nurse to gather your vital signs for your file. Dr. Rosser and his clinical assistant will then evaluate you by reviewing your chart, discussing your weight loss history in great detail. Next you will be given a thorough physical examination and an abdominal ultrasound.

During your consultation, Dr. Rosser will thoroughly explain the various types of weight loss surgery that are offered and the benefits and risks of each. You will be encouraged to ask questions to eliminate any uncertainties you may have.

The major determining factor for bariatric surgery candidacy is your BMI (Body Mass Index). First and foremost, you must be in the weight range that qualifies you for surgery. A general guideline is that your BMI be over 40, or over 35 with 2 or more co-morbidities. Subsequently, Dr. Rosser and his team will help you to determine if surgery is right for you.

At the end of your initial consultation, Dr. Rosser will have determined whether or not weight loss surgery is a viable option for you.