 |
| |
To the Referring Physician
Referring Your Adult PatientsTo refer a patient to the MGH Weight Center, please fill out the MGH Weight Center Consultation Request form and fax to 617-724-2535. You can also contact our New Patient Coordinator at 617-726-0373 or by email at weightcenter@partners.org.
Once we have received your patient’s information we will contact them with information about our program including an invitation to the MGH Weight Center New Patient Orientation and send them a Patient Initial Evaluation Questionnaire.
At the MGH Weight Center Orientation your patient will have the opportunity to meet with the Weight Center Staff and learn about the medical and surgical programs we offer. Once your patient has completed the MGH Weight Center New Patient Orientation and completed the Initial Evaluation Questionnaire they will be scheduled for their initial evaluation at the MGH Weight Center.
Referring Your Pediatric or Adolescent PatientTo refer a pediatric or adolescent patient to the MGH Weight Center, please fill out the MGH Weight Center Pediatric Consultation Request form and fax it to 617-724-2535. You can also contact our New Patient Coordinator at 617-726-0373 or by email at weightcenter@partners.org.
Once we have received your patient’s information we will contact the parent/guardian (or patient, if 18 or older) to schedule a three part initial evaluation appointment which includes visits with pediatric obesity medicine specialist, a psychologist and a dietitian all with experience and expertise in weight problems in the younger patient. Please refer to the Pediatric/Adolescent Programs for more information.
Patient ConsultationAll patients receive consultations with members of a multidisciplinary team that includes physician obesity medicine specialist (internist, gastroenterologist, or endocrinologist), nutritionist, and psychologist. The team then meets to share their impressions and develop a treatment plan for your patient. Options may include enrollment of the patient in one of the medical or surgical management programs at the MGH Weight Center. Decisions about patient care are then made collaboratively with your patient, the MGH Weight Center team and you as the referring physician.
Weight Loss ProgramsPersonalized, coordinated, multidisciplinary weight loss programs are developed for each patient treated in the MGH Weight Center. Each of our programs is divided into discrete phases reflecting the differing goals and requirements of patients at different stages of treatment. Depending on the needs of each individual, our treatment plans include some combination of the following interventions:
- pharmacological therapies
- nutrition, diet and exercise counseling
- lifestyle modification counseling
- standard and minimally invasive weight loss surgery
- complementary therapies
- innovative therapeutic combinations
- revisional weight loss surgeries
Patients with Prior Weight Loss Surgery
The MGH Weight Center also serves as a referral center for patients who had prior weight loss surgeries and are struggling with weight gain or other post-surgical complications. Our expert bariatric surgeons and obesity medicine physicians can evaluate patients for the diagnosis and treatment of post-surgical complications. We use surgery, medications, and/or behavior programs to help patients who suffer from weight regain or inadequate weight loss following bariatric surgeries.
Costs
To the maximum degree possible, medical costs associated with consultation and treatment at the MGH Weight Center are borne by third party payers. Health insurance plans rarely cover the full costs associated with multidisciplinary care so patients are required to bear a portion of these costs directly. To limit the financial burden on our patients, all of our consultation and treatment programs are divided into modules of three months or less.
Qualifying for third party payment of bariatric surgeries vary by carrier. Most often, a BMI of 40+ or BMI of at least 35 with other co-morbidities is required to qualify for third party authorization. The staff at the MGH Weight Center will work with your patient in submitting their case for review by their third party carrier.
For More Information
For more information please contact our New Patient Coordinator at 617-726-0373 or by email at weightcenter@partners.org.
 |
Contact Us |
 |
Refer a Patient |
 |
Become a Patient |
 |
Obesity Medicine and Nutrition Postdoctoral Fellowships Available |
